Melvin Gordon is practically acting as Philip Rivers’ agent. During an interview with CBS on Monday, Gordon was asked what he thinks about Rivers’ free agency prospects. And the running back, who is also a pending free agent, offered his opinion on the best fit for Rivers.
“I think he’ll go to the Colts. I don’t know, that’s just my thought,” Gordon said on CBS Sports, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “He has Nick (Sirianni) there, the (OC), he came from here. They run the same playbook, so it’d be easy, he could come right in. … That’s probably the best fit.”
It is, indeed. There are a few free-agent quarterbacks who are more talented than Rivers. But there probably isn’t a quarterback who suits the Colts as well as the soon-to-be former Chargers quarterback. L.A. and Rivers decided to mutually part ways earlier this offseason.
Tom Brady is a great option, in theory. But he has played in one system for his entire NFL career, and would likely require his next offensive coordinator run that system. The Chargers would have to adapt to Brady, which is probably worthwhile but definitely more complicated for a short-term solution at quarterback.
Drew Brees seems out of the question — he’ll probably retire or return to the New Orleans Saints.
Teddy Bridgewater is probably the next-best option, but there should be some uncertainty about how much the Saints offense boosted his production in 2019. That statistical spike is likely to give him significant contract leverage, and perhaps the Colts won’t want to take such a huge risk on him, especially when Jacoby Brissett, also 27-years-old, is on the roster with solid potential.
It comes back to Rivers, who seems like a nice stop-gap option for Indianapolis, if it is unsatisfied with Brissett. Rivers could play for a year or two, hopefully at a high level. The transition should be seamless, and he’ll get a chance to show what he can do after graduating from the often-maligned Chargers organization.
