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Melvin Gordon visiting Cowboys, Cardinals

Two teams that could use some help at the running back position -- the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys -- are set to host one of the NFL draft's elite prospects at the position in Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin.



The Heisman Trophy finalist made his way to Arizona Monday, in fact, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports. The Cardinals, apparently interested in the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson as well, finished last year second from the bottom in the NFL in rushing at only 81.8 yards per game.

Scouting questions about Gordon, who rushed for 2,587 yards as a senior for the Badgers, include whether he can succeed as a receiver out of the backfield in the NFL. He was rarely thrown to at Wisconsin, and thus put his receiving skills on display at his pro day. Arizona threw frequently to running back Andre Ellington last year (46 catches), but the Cowboys threw even more than that to departed free agent DeMarco Murray (57 catches).

Gordon will also visit Dallas, according to Getlin, as the Cowboys look to fill the void left by the NFL's leading rusher in 2014.

Dallas has signed free agent Darren McFadden, but given McFadden's limited production and injury history, his acquisition wouldn't preclude the club from making a strong move in the draft for a running back.



Gordon is projected as a late first-round pick, which would put him within range of both the Cardinals' and Cowboys' first picks (No. 24 and No. 27, respectively).

Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter *@ChaseGoodbread*.