The Cleveland Browns went 7-9 this year, but made significant strides under first-year head coach Mike Pettine. Cleveland was actually leading the AFC North at the end of Week 10 with a 6-3 mark, only to drop three of its next four before replacing Brian Hoyer with Johnny Manziel. In related news, the Browns lost their final three games, including one behind something named Connor Shaw.
This offseason, the Browns have plenty of resources to make the job from average to playoff-caliber. Cleveland has $51.3 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap, fourth-most of any team. Additionally, the Browns have two first-round picks after acquiring the Buffalo Bills’ selection in the Sammy Watkins deal last year. The only fly in the ointment is who becomes the starting quarterback, but that is another column for another day.
With so much ammunition and a solid defense already in tact, the question of the offseason becomes what to do about receiver Josh Gordon. Few players have raw ability like Gordon, but even fewer come with such baggage. The Browns took Gordon in the 2012 Supplemental Draft and he produced in 16 games, catching 50 passes for 805 yards and five touchdowns.
However, Gordon was suspended the first two games of 2013 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. This came as little surprise, considering he had been dismissed from Baylor University following two failed marijuana tests and then failed another at the University of Utah after transferring. Despite the two-game ban, Gordon still led the league in receiving yards (1,646) on 87 catches with nine scores. It was a breakout year for the now 23-year-old, but more trouble was around the corner.
Right before the 2014 NFL Draft, word came down that Gordon was suspended for the entire season for running afoul of the substance abuse policy. The suspension was later reduced to 10 games, but Gordon never made much impact on the field. In five contests, Gordon caught 24 passes for 303 yards and never found the end zone, before being suspended again for failing to show up to a walk-through the day before the season finale.
Perhaps even more worrisome is Gordon’s admittance to not knowing the entire playbook when he returned in November, per Pat McManamon of ESPN. Comments like those and his suspensions have called into serious question whether Gordon has a role on Pettine’s roster, a coach known for a no-nonsense approach.
If Cleveland decides to move on, it will have no problem trading him. Only 23 years old and on a team-friendly contract with one year remaining at a $1.68 million cap hit. Gordon would likely fetch a mid-round pick, with clauses in the trade that could make the selection a round or two higher depending on Gordon’s numbers.
It appears likely Gordon will be moved, especially with the Browns having so much spending money for free agency and two first-round selections in a deep receiver draft. Cleveland might not want to risk another Gordon suspension, which would be a year-long ban and ultimately end his tenure with the Browns anyway.
Gordon’s talent is undeniable. Unfortunately, so is his penchant for trouble.
