Elway: Gordon, Lindsay give Broncos 'great 1-2 punch'

Denver Broncos president and general manager John Elway explained one of the more curious moves of the first wave of NFL free agency.

The Broncos signed Melvin Gordon - who was believed to have more lucrative offers - to a two-year, $16-million contract despite having Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman on the roster.

But Elway believed he couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a player of Gordon's ilk.

"I know there's people going, 'Why do you need another horse?' Well, when you have an opportunity for Melvin Gordon to come in here, we felt like it was an addition to the team," Elway said to team writer Aric DiLalla.

He added: "He's a guy that obviously has had a lot of success in this league. He's scored a lot of touchdowns and has caught the football a ton. So we feel like with him - with Melvin, as well as Phillip - that we've got a great one-two punch, and we'll only get better in the backfield."

Gordon has rushed for 4,240 yards and scored 47 touchdowns in five seasons. Despite holding out for the early portion of the 2019 campaign, the two-time Pro Bowler put up 612 rushing yards and nine total scores for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The undrafted Lindsay has eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in each of his two seasons with the Broncos. He ran for 1,011 yards and seven touchdowns last year while sharing time with Freeman.

However, Lindsay has just 241 and 196 receiving yards, respectively, in his two campaigns, while Gordon had 42 receptions for 296 yards in just 12 games last season.

Elway said the signing came down to the team finding more ways to get into the end zone.

"Ultimately, we have to score more points this year. We've struggled on the offensive side the last two, three years, and so we've got to get better on that side," Elway said. "I think Melvin will be one of those key pieces to help us get better."