Why the Cleveland Browns Would be Foolish to Trade Josh Gordon

The Cleveland Browns insist they aren’t interested in trading away talented wideout Josh Gordon, and this is absolutely the right stance for the franchise.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was officially reinstated into the NFL earlier this month. Though he will have to serve a four-game suspension to start the season, Gordon will be allowed to play for the first time since receiving an indefinite suspension for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy in 2015.

Gordon’s reinstatement is obviously welcome news for the Browns organization, but it’s also a development that has caused some receiver-needy teams to take notice.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that teams have contacted the Browns in order to “inquire about the availability of Gordon.” According to Schefter, though, the Browns have indicated that they are not looking to trade him.

There is an obvious reason why teams would be interested in the former Baylor standout, of course. Back in 2013, Gordon led the NFL with 1,646 yards receiving despite missing two games due to suspension. He is a proven game-changing talent that can be virtually unstoppable in the right environment.

Jul 31, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon talks with wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (18) during drills at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Berea, OH. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

There are plenty of teams lacking a truly elite receiver, and Gordon has the potential to be exactly that.

Cleveland is a rebuilding franchise. and as such, is likely at least a few years away from real contention. This is why, despite what the team might say publicly, the Browns are going to at least listen to offers for Gordon.

The team drafted four wide receivers this year—including first-rounder Corey Coleman—and may have an emerging receiver in Terrelle Pryor. Add in Pro Bowl tight end Gary Barnidge and slot receiver Andrew Hawkins and Cleveland looks to have a receiving corps it can build around even without Gordon.

Dealing Gordon could net the Browns some potential building blocks for the future. Yet, the team is right to show reluctance in trading Gordon, and there are a couple of reasons why.

The first is that Cleveland isn’t likely to get a whole lot in return for Gordon. Since Gordon is a repeat violator of the league’s substance abuse policy, he carries a lot of risk. Another violation would yield another indefinite suspension and could jeopardize the remainder of his playing career.

Keeping Gordon is risky for the Browns, but it would also be risky for any team trading to acquire him. It simply doesn’t seem likely that a team would part with more than a mid-round pick to assume that risk.

One thing Cleveland isn’t short on right now is draft picks. The team currently holds 10 in next year’s draft. Is it worth parting with Gordon to add a couple of Day-3 picks to Cleveland’s draft capital?

Probably not.

It makes sense for Cleveland to stick by Gordon because of that aforementioned proven talent. Gordon has loads of it, while any draft picks the Browns might net in a trade would have none at the NFL level.

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Sure, the Browns might have future star receivers in Pryor and Coleman, but when’s the last time a team was upset at having too many quality playmakers?

It also makes sense for the Browns to keep Gordon because he is a player that wants to play for the franchise. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has stuck by Gordon throughout his suspension, and new head coach Hue Jackson seems to want to maximize Gordon’s potential as a player.

Gordon appears eager to reward the Browns for standing by him thus far.

“Mr. Haslam, the organization, Coach Jackson, I think the world of those guys, this city, this organization,” Gordon recently said, per Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland. “They’re family. They’re showing me the love and respect back to me by allowing me to stay here up to this point.”

Cleveland isn’t exactly known as an enticing destination for top-tier NFL talent. Yet, if Gordon can return to pre-suspension form, the Browns will have a top-tier talent aching to take the field for them.

This makes the gamble of retaining Gordon an acceptable one.

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Everything could change once we get into the regular season, of course. If the Browns ride the likes of Coleman and Pryor to a 4-0 record during Gordon’s suspension, they might reconsider their stance. Another team might decide to offer up a second-round pick if Gordon racks up 500 receiving yards before the trade deadline.

For now, though, the Browns are wise to roll the dice on Gordon and see what he can do in 2016.

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