Any NFL team that was looking to upgrade its receiving corps now has a question to ask itself: Is pursuing Josh Gordon the right move?
With the Cleveland Browns' surprising announcement Saturday that they plan to release the former Pro Bowl wide receiver, a top-end talent with a checkered past is available on the market.
Though teams will have to weigh if they're willing to take a chance on Gordon after he played in just 10 games from 2014-17 and served suspensions for multiple violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy, an NFL.com report indicated that five teams were already evaluating whether to orchestrate a trade for him. And with him earning just $790,000 this year before becoming a restricted free agent in 2019, he could be a low-risk, high-reward option on his current deal.
Here are eight teams that could be potential fits for Gordon:
Bills: Corey Coleman didn't stick, but maybe another Browns castoff could. With one of the league's worst collections of wideouts, Buffalo is in no position to be ignoring potential help. Gordon would open things up for the rest of the attack and could form a big-play connection with strong-armed rookie quarterback Josh Allen.
Colts: Andrew Luck needs help outside of T.Y. Hilton. While coach Frank Reich and general manager Chris Ballard might be inclined to embrace a clean slate and build from within, Gordon would be a potential game breaker.
Bengals: Putting Gordon alongside A.J. Green and second-year speedster John Ross would give the Bengals' one of the most dangerous set of downfield pass catchers. And Cincinnati has shown under Marvin Lewis it isn't afraid to go its own way on player evaluations.
Patriots: New England's wide receiver room has been a revolving door this offseason, so why not take a look at Gordon? He might not fit with Bill Belichick, but the recent signing of Coleman reinforces the Patriots' willingness to take a gamble to address razor-thin depth.
Seahawks: Pete Carroll's crew just signed linebacker Mychal Kendricks despite his guilty plea to insider trading, so the Seahawks clearly aren't afraid to ignore outside sentiments in the pursuit of an impact player. Doug Baldwin is dealing with a sprained right medial collateral ligament, and there's little help beyond Tyler Lockett.
Cowboys: Jerry Jones' crew just had to be on this list, didn't it? Multiple reports have already emerged indicating the Cowboys won't make a run at Gordon, but there's no denying that Dak Prescott's current pass catchers aren't up to snuff.
Jaguars: He's likely a poor fit for Tom Coughlin's no-nonsense regime, but Jacksonville could clearly use a more dynamic threat in its receiving corps as it looks to make a Super Bowl push. The Jaguars haven't looked for outside help, however, after Marqise Lee was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
49ers: Kyle Shanahan was Gordon's offensive coordinator in 2014, so he knows how to take advantage of the wide receiver's skill set. But San Francisco might be content with Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis as its young downfield threats.
Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.
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