The Baltimore Ravens are bringing in Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon for a pre-draft visit.
Yahoo! Sports reported the news Wednesday afternoon. The report came a few hours after the Ravens released running back Bernard Pierce following his DUI arrest.
The Ravens re-signed Justin Forsett last week. Forsett is coming off, by far, the best season of his career; he rushed for 1,266 yards in 2014, and his previous season-high had been 619 in 2009, with Seattle. But Gordon potentially would give the Ravens a (relatively) long-term answer at running back.
Baltimore picks 26th overall, which basically is in line with where Gordon is expected to go. While no running back has gone in the first round in either of the past two drafts, Gordon and Georgia's Todd Gurley are seen as likely first-rounders this year.
If they don't go for a running back, the Ravens could opt to address wide receiver, the defensive line or edge rusher in the first round.
Yahoo! Sports reported Tuesday that Gordon would be visiting with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gordon (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) rushed for 2,587 yards in 2014, the second-highest total in FBS single-season history to Barry Sanders' 2,628 in 1988. Gordon, who had six 200-yard games in 2014, also rushed for 29 TDs.
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Gordon as his No. 12 overall prospect and says Gordon "should be ready to contribute on all three downs in Year 1."
Five of the six NFL Media analysts who have posted mock drafts have Gordon going in the first round, and three of those five have him being available when the Ravens select 26th. Something to note: Dallas -- which also would seem to be in the market for a running back -- holds the 27th pick.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
