CHICAGO -- Wisconsin star Melvin Gordon is joining Steven Jackson's cause to save the endangered running back.
Speaking to reporters at Wednesday's NFL Play 60 Youth Football Clinic, Gordon cited Jackson's new website, savetherunningback.org.
One of the big takeaways from Super Bowl XLIX Media Day was that reporters were fascinated with the notion that running backs have been devalued in today's NFL.
After DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy landed monster contracts last month, Gordon believes running backs could be on the upswing again.
"I believe Jeremy Hill could've gone first round. Le'Veon Bell could've gone first round," Gordon said " ... Those guys right there, they're helping us out."
If Gordon and Georgia's Todd Gurley go off the board in the first round, he believes that will give running backs in future draft classes hope.
"Steven Jackson said it best, 'save the running backs,' " Gordon continued. "That's honestly the movement. That's what it is. #STRB. Save The Running Backs. When we were younger, everybody wanted to be a running back. Now everybody wants to be a corner. We're just trying to bring it back."
On a recent edition of the Around The NFL Podcast, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah noted that the national media has gotten carried away with the notion of positional value, pointing out that it often comes in waves.
"To me, these are two of the best backs to come out in some time," Jeremiah added. "I think Gordon's a really, really good player."
At this point, it would be a major surprise if both backs aren't selected in the first round Thursday night.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast previews the 2015 NFL Draft and breaks down the biggest rumors and storylines. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
