Los Angeles Chargers

Melvin Gordon: I can win the starting job

Published May. 1, 2015 3:07 a.m. ET

foxsports

Running back was an obvious target for the San Diego Chargers.

Now that he's coming to town, Melvin Gordon thinks he's the obvious choice to start in Week 1.

“I’m ready to come in there and compete,” Gordon told ESPN. “Ryan Mathews is gone, and there’s a chance to come in there and play. You’ve got some backs in there that know the system and have played the game. I’m excited to learn from those guys, but I’m definitely ready to come in and compete because that’s what I got drafted to do.”

Mike McCoy offered the usual coach-speak about how Gordon will have to earn his keep. With all due respect to Branden Oliver and San Diego's current running back stable, though, teams don't draft running backs so early with the intent of watching them sit on game days.

Perhaps general manager Tom Telesco said it best after the draft.

“It was a need for us to get an impact player -- a guy who could break games open. We don’t have it, but now we have one. And we’re excited to get him.”

Gordon will probably have every chance to win the starting job and prove Telesco right.

(h/t ESPN)