Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett signed for the veteran's minimum in free agency last offseason. Talk about bang for your buck. Forsett finished 2014 as the NFL's fifth leading rusher with 1,266 yards to go along with eight rushing touchdowns and 44 receptions. The former seventh-round pick's breakout season couldn't have come at a better time as he is set to hit unrestricted free agency next month.
If Forsett proves too expensive to hold on to than Baltimore is going to have a big hole at the running back position.
"If they lose Justin Forsett during free agency, the Ravens will be looking for another lead back," CSN Baltimore's Clifton Brown wrote. "Bernard Pierce hasn't shown he can handle that role, and second-year running back Lorenzo Taliaferro may not be ready to start either."
So, how will Baltimore address this potential need? The upcoming NFL draft offers an interesting opportunity.
"If Forsett stays, drafting [Melvin] Gordon would be a much lesser priority. But if Forsett leaves, Gordon might be too good for the Ravens to pass up."
Amen to that. Gordon rushed for a jaw dropping 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns (!) with a 7.5 yards per carry average this past season at Wisconsin. While no running back has been taken in the first round of the NFL draft since Trent Richardson in 2012 (and we all know how that ended up), ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. projects Gordon to be selected 17th overall by the San Diego Chargers. The Ravens don't pick until No. 26, but it's clear that Gordon could be the exception to the recent draft trend.
