This week, teams across the NFL are starting training camp as they gear up for the 2016 regular season. Traditionally, training camp is all about rookies getting adjusted to NFL life, and position battles. Teams are also signing veteran players to fill out the roster, while other players are making their way back from suspension.
The latter half of this statement can be applied to embattled Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. Earlier this week, Gordon was reinstated by the NFL, and will serve a four-game suspension to begin the 2016 season after being suspended for the entire 2015 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
On the surface, this is good news for the Browns as they get their premier wide receiver back, who set the league on fire in 2013.
The 2013 season was an excellent year for Gordon as he had 87 receptions for 1,646 yards (which led the league), and nine touchdowns. Gordon was on his way to becoming a standout wide receiver in the NFL, but his substance abuse (namely marijuana) derailed the troubled receiver leading to his 2015 suspension.
With Gordon’s return, analysts are wondering if he will stay in Cleveland or if a different team will kick the tires on him. One of those teams looking to continue to upgrade the wide receiver position is the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles did not have a big play wide receiver on the roster last season even though second-year wide receiver Jordan Matthews had a breakout year. On Tuesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Eagles had interest in free agent wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who eventually signed with the Detroit Lions.
With that in mind, ESPN’s Jon Clayton was on 97.5 The Fanatic on Tuesday, speculating that if the Browns move Gordon, the Eagles may be interested.
Here’s what Clayton said on 97.5 The Fanatic [quote transcribed by Bleeding Green Nation]:
“I wouldn’t be surprised, as [the Eagles] looked down the landscape, if a receiver pops free … in fact, I was trying to go through the rationale, let’s say, for example, the Browns want to trade Josh Gordon,” said Clayton. “What teams might be interested? Philly might be one of those teams that might consider it because you’d be getting a great talent cheap and he would fit the outside slot.”
Clayton brings up two solid points on why the Eagles should add a talent like Gordon. Right now, if you look at the Eagles wide receiver corps, they lack a big play wide receiver. Currently, the Eagles have Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Rueben Randle, Josh Huff, and Chris Givens. If Matthews and Agholor continue to develop, they could become big play wide receivers. But for now, they aren’t proven yet in that role.
Gordon, however, is that proven commodity and he has been performing at a high level since his rookie year in 2012. As a rookie, he had 50 receptions for 805 receiving yards and five touchdowns followed by his Pro Bowl 2013 season.
If you insert Gordon into this Eagles’ offense, the wide receiver corps automatically becomes better and things will begin to open up across the field. If the latter part of this statement sounds familiar, look back when the Eagles had DeSean Jackson in 2013.
Jackson became the big play, deep threat wide receiver for an Eagles’ offense that did not have Jeremy Maclin, who was injured. This caused Riley Cooper to step up as the number two receiver. That year, Jackson had a career year with 82 receptions for 1,332 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns.
While his numbers were good, Cooper became the beneficiary of all the attention Jackson received from opposing defenses. Cooper had 47 receptions for 835 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
When the Eagles had Terrell Owens in 2004, he brought the big play ability to an Eagles wide receiver corps that had Freddie Mitchell, Todd Pinkston, and Greg Lewis. While Owens had 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, both Mitchell and Pinkston had good seasons.
The proof is in the pudding. If you have a big play wide receiver, life is easier on the offense.
To further validate that statement, just look at the rest of the NFC East. Right now, the Eagles wide receiver corps lacks firepower in comparison to the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins. The Cowboys have Dez Bryant, the Giants have Odell Beckham Jr., and Washington has Jackson.
Even if these players do not have big games, they command attention, and their teammates reap the rewards. Just look at former Giants and new Eagles wideout Rueben Randle. Randle played opposite Beckham Jr. last season, and had a good season with 57 receptions for 797 yards, and eight touchdowns. He became a solid secondary option for quarterback Eli Manning. Just imagine if you had Gordon in this Eagles’ offense. Agholor will easily have a better sophomore season playing on the opposite side.
However, when talking about Gordon, his off-the-field issues would have any teams’ front offices worried despite his great play on the field. According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, Gordon is on thin ice, and new Browns head coach Hue Jackson is not giving him any latitude.
With that known, would the Eagles take the risk? If some of their draft picks were any indication, you might say yes. Some of their day three picks have red flags, but the talent outweighs the issues. Gordon would not be a problem in the Eagles’ locker room given a chance.
Nevertheless, I would be surprised if the Browns move on from Gordon because he still brings a lot to the table, and could help out their offense when he eventually steps on the field. But it’s not a secret that the Eagles want to upgrade the wide receiver position, so it will be interesting to see if they make any additional moves this summer.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
