The Cleveland Browns are moving on from receiver Josh Gordon and the Dallas Cowboys aren’t loaded with talent there. Is it a dream fit, or a terrible idea?
In what came as a bit of a surprise, the Cleveland Browns decided it was time to move on from wide receiver Josh Gordon. Originally there were planning to cut him but reports surfaced that teams were interested in him enough that he may actually be traded. With a need at the position, the Dallas Cowboys have naturally become a team to watch.
The fit makes sense beyond the need as Gordon started at Baylor, giving him ties to the state. It was also believed Dallas was interested in the wide receiver when he entered the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft.
If it were up to Gordon, Dallas is one of the places he would play. According to Adam Schefter, the troubled wideout has his eyes on Dallas and the San Francisco 49ers.
Cleveland prefers to trade WR Josh Gordon out of the AFC, and to an NFC team, and that's the Browns' current intent, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 16, 2018
Gordon knows he has no say in where he is traded, but the two places he's hoping to land are with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.
The obvious question that follows is whether or not Dallas would have any interest. Early indications suggest they want no part in Gordon, but things could always change. Even if they were to become interested, the follow-up question becomes whether or not it’s a smart move.
Gordon surely has the talent. The last time he played close to a full season was 2013 and he led the league in receiving yardage with 1,646. However, Gordon has played in just 11 games since that season.
In 2013, when he led the league in yardage, he was suspended for the first two games. Another followed in 2014 and he played just five games. Gordon wasn’t seen again until late in the 2017 season and managed only five games again.
Even this summer there were issues as Gordon missed most of training camp and all of the preseason to attend to his personal well being. Week 1 saw Gordon back for the Browns and he made a game-tying touchdown catch despite great coverage.
That wasn’t enough for the Browns to keep him as word broke Saturday that he wouldn’t play this weekend due to a hamstring injury. News of a pending release soon followed as the circumstances around the injury led the Browns to determine they could no longer trust Gordon.
For Dallas, it could be a dream fit if he does, in fact, keep his nose clean. If he doesn’t, this would be a nightmare scenario that would lead to them being ridiculed — more than normal. Still, it’s tempting considering how bad they looked in the passing game against Carolina. If they struggle again on Sunday Night, expect the noise around them and Gordon to get even louder.