The Arizona Cardinals ranked next-to-last in rushing yards per game last season (81.8) and 29th in rushing touchdowns (6). Andre Ellington is a quality pass-catching back who moves well in space, but he's best suited for the complimentary role he excelled in as a rookie in 2013. While the Cardinals could also upgrade its offensive line to help open up running lanes, adding talent to the backfield would be the quickest way to improve in this area.
That's why the football writers of CSNWashington.com project the Cardinals to select Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon with the No. 24 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
"Carson Palmer is coming off a major knee injury. Drew Stanton looked like a backup when thrust into the starting role. However, at this point there isn't a clear third option behind Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. What exists is a running back dynamo in Gordon and a team that should look to pair this elusive threat with the shifty Andre Ellington. If they can't fix the QB spot, at least take pressure off by going with a run-heavy look."
The only problem is that the Wisconsin star is a popular pick for several teams. Gordon has been linked to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 27, the Indianapolis Colts at No. 29 and the Seattle Seahawks at No. 31. It's possible that an interested party may trade up to get Gordon and make him the first running back drafted in the top 32 since Trent Richardson in 2012.
Here's what ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. had to say of Gordon.
"A healthy Andre Ellington gives Arizona some explosiveness out of the backfield, but he's not a player you want to rely on for too many touches, and a good running game will go a long way in Arizona," Kiper wrote. "Gordon has the explosiveness that you need from an RB taken this high - he's a true game-breaker - but he's also proved durable. Linebacker is another big need for Arizona, but that's one the team can hit further down the board. If Gordon seems like a luxury pick, the Cardinals could certainly argue he's an immediate-impact player for a team that wants to win."
