6 NFL teams that should try to trade for Josh Gordon from the Browns

Over the weekend, the news that people have been expecting for years, but is still somehow surprising, hit when the Cleveland Browns announced they would be parting ways with wide receiver Josh Gordon. They might not have to do that. As of Monday morning, they were expected to have trade offers to choose from.

In 2013, playing in 14 games with the Browns, Gordon caught 87 passes for a league-leading 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. He was unstoppable, and has flashed that kind of ability off and on since then, including a 115-yard game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. But the game-breaking receiver with deep-threat ability has missed more football than he’s played over the course of his NFL career.

That’s primarily due to off-field issues, almost all of which relate to positive drug tests and the ensuing suspensions. But when he’s on the field, he would be an asset to pretty much any group of receivers in the league, provided there is even a shred of confidence that he can stay on the field.

Gordon’s contract makes it easy for a team to fit him into their salary cap too. He’s due $790,000 in salary this season, and he’ll be a restricted free agent in 2019.

He’s too good to end up unemployed, at least right now. Another team will want a shot at him to help change their own fortunes in the process. Whether the Browns officially release Gordon or he is traded, these are some of the best potential landing spots for Gordon.

New England has always made things work regardless of who is playing receiver, but the group is really, really thin this year, and Tom Brady isn’t getting any younger.

Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks, who were reliable targets for Brady, are gone. New England lists its starting receivers as Julian Edelman (currently suspended) and Chris Hogan, though tight end Rob Gronkowski is the true top threat in their offense. Through two games, Gronkowski and running back James White lead the team in receiving yardage, with wide receiver Phillip Dorsett just behind White.

The Patriots could use Gordon to catches an 80-yard bomb from Brady every now and again. And the way things are trending, we could see that very soon:

While the 49ers like their group of receivers, Marquise Goodwin is already banged up and Dante Pettis has already had a few rookie mistakes, like a crucial fumble against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. Then add the fact that Kyle Shanahan was Gordon’s offensive coordinator in 2014, and it just fits.

Pierre Garcon is the team’s top receiver, and he’s a possession guy. Gordon would add so much to the offense, and give Jimmy Garoppolo a reliable target capable of going up for his high passes, a trend through two games. General manager John Lynch has already stated that the 49ers are making calls about Gordon.

Reports have suggested they aren’t interested in Gordon, but NFL teams say a lot of things that ultimately wind up contradictory. The Cowboys are 1-1 to start the season, and Dak Prescott no longer looks like a Cinderella story quarterback, though he did enough to support his defense in a Week 2 winning effort against the Giants.

He also hit Tavon Austin, another deep threat, on a big touchdown in that game. But even if Austin continues to provide that spark, having a receiver like Gordon to throw to would probably help Prescott regain some confidence that can’t be gained by beating what looks to be a very bad Giants team.

Right now, Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams, and Cole Beasley are the top receivers on the depth chart, and that group doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence. Then you have the fact that Ezekiel Elliott, a running back, is leading the team in routes run through two games, with 19 percent of targets going his way. On top of that: the NFC East could be up for grabs and Dallas wants to compete with Philadelphia, the defending Super Bowl champions. After losing Dez Bryant and Jason Witten this offseason, Gordon could help them do just that.

Let’s face it, the Bengals have a history of snagging troubled players under head coach Marvin Lewis (see guys like Adam Jones, Tank Johnson, and, most recently, Joe Mixon). The Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have all looked weaker than expected two weeks into the season, and Cincinnati might just be able to ice the AFC North if they line up Gordon next to A.J. Green.

Don’t get me wrong — John Ross and Tyler Boyd combined with Green makes for a talented group of receivers. But someone like Gordon would put that offense over the top, and perhaps give them a much-needed boost in the playoffs. For the Bengals, perhaps the least-needy of the teams on this list, acquiring Gordon would need to be a low-investment move.

Once again, the Colts are in a place where it’s not totally clear if they are going to be competing in their division or if they’re rebuilding. Andrew Luck is finally back on the field, and he looks good after returning from a very lengthy injury. He’s also sorely lacking in receiving options at the moment. T.Y. Hilton is good, but the Colts need to get him more help. He can’t do it by himself if the Colts want to keep pace with what is looking like a competitive AFC South in 2018.

This one is probably the biggest long shot of the bunch simply because the Jaguars have some people — namely VP of football operations Tom Coughlin — who take a strict approach to running a football team. But with Marqise Lee out for the season and the team playing well, bringing in someone like Gordon — at the right price — would put them over the top.

Donte Moncrief, Dede Westbrook, and Keelan Cole (who showcased some of his own big-play ability in Week 2) are currently the top receivers on the depth chart. It’s also been reported that Gordon is “strongly interested” in playing for the Jaguars, in addition to the 49ers and Cowboys.

Not that the Jaguars hurting right now, coming off a big win over the Patriots in Week 2. But the Jaguars were close to making it to the Super Bowl a season ago, and a star wide receiver could certainly help get them there.