Melvin Gordon says he's better than Todd Gurley, but nervous about going Round 1

The running-back-drafted-in-Round-1 debate is a fascinating one.

The past two drafts have not featured a first-round back, and yet several young runners have had success right away in the NFL. The prevailing thought is that you can wait at that position and still get talent, and why invest in a position where players tend to burn out more quickly?

But when you have special talents at the position, such as Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon, the discussion changes. For players such as these, NFL teams might be more willing to make exceptions and break the recent trend.

Will it happen this year? Gurley is roundly expected to go somewhere in Round 1. But what about Gordon?

Gordon, who will be attending the draft in Chicago, spoke with 120 Sports on Friday and admitted that he's nervous about the possibility of sliding out of the first 32 picks, possibly making for a long green room stay.

"You know what? You try to say stuff, ‘I’m going to go first round, I’m not going to worry.’ And like you said, [it has been] two or three years since a running back has been taken in Round 1. You kind of think about that a little bit, you think maybe not, you never know," Gurley said.

(And for the record, what was trimmed out of the video: Gordon said he wasn't sure if he planned to pack two suits for his Chicago trip.)

For Gordon, going in the first round might mean that he helped end a draft trend.

"You kind of think like that, but I really hope I do [go in Round 1]," he said. "I’m in a group [text] message with Todd and some other running backs, and it’s been … you know, we all wanted to me in this position and kind of break that little trend that’s been going on with running backs. Give some young running backs some hope that running backs still can go in the first round.

"It’s a lot different from when I was growing up. Everyone was saying running back, but now it’s corner or receiver. It’s a little different from when I was growing up as a kid, but we just want to give some kids some hope and let them know running backs are still important."

Gordon respects Gurley's game and is friends with him, as they've texted back and forth during the run up to the draft. But Gordon also said he believed he was the better back of the two.

"I feel like Todd is a playmaker, too, but I feel like I am a bigger playmaker," Gordon said. "I’m just explosive, more explosive on the field. I’ve had more big runs, honestly. I’ve had big runs inside, outside, the jet sweeps …

"I feel like we’re both explosive. You can’t go wrong with either back. Like I’ve said before: You can go with red apples or you can go with green apples."

And could Gordon's durability — 549 carries the past two seasons, including 343 in 2014 — be something that separates him from Gurley, considering the Georgia back's injury history?

"I can say that," Gordon said. "Just showing with the amount of carries I am taking, and how durable I’ve been … I guess you can throw that in there, too."

Still, Gordon admitted that he needed work in the passing game and isn't a perfect back. He also said he'd like to join the Green Bay Packers, his home-state team, which likely isn't happening, after previously saying he'd love to run behind the line of the Dallas Cowboys.

One by one, Gordon seems to be campaigning teams, hoping any way he can to land in the first round on April 30.