Redskins: Is adding the soon to be released Josh Gordon worth it?
Josh Gordon is going to be released by the Cleveland Browns on Monday. The Washington Redskins could have interest but will have to decide whether or not he’s worth the trouble.
Nobody saw the Josh Gordon release coming. On Saturday afternoon, he was declared out for the Browns-Saints game as he continued to deal with a hamstring injury. That was a surprise. But the team announcing that they would release him on Monday? That was frankly shocking.
Granted, Gordon has been a great deal of trouble for the Browns, he failed multiple drug tests, was suspended for a long period of time, and didn’t report to the team until late this offseason, but he’s still a talented player. And given how long they stayed committed to him, this just seems like a strange time to part with him.
That said, now that Gordon is available, there will be a handful of NFL teams that will want his service. I’m sure that the Patriots will be tied to him, as they love reclamation projects, but the Redskins are a team whose name could surface as well.
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The Redskins’ weakest position group is arguably the receiving corps, they’ve already lost two of their original six receivers for the season, and they were tied to Dez Bryant at times this offseason as well. Of course, the Bryant rumors were often speaking of how they were not interested in him, but the point is that they are among the teams that could use some extra receiving depth.
The question now becomes: is Gordon worth the risk? The timing of his release is really weird, to say the least, but he was trending towards being a starting receiver in Cleveland again. At the very least, he is a terrific athlete with the upside to be a No. 1 receiver at his best. And even if he’s not at his peak, as a depth player, he could do a lot.
That said, there’s also all the questions about his character with all the suspensions and the time he spent away from the team this offseason. Also, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport spoke of the circumstances leading to Gordon’s release, which paint a bit of a concerning picture about how seriously he’s taking being in the NFL.
On Josh Gordon: He was late today to the facility, source said. In addition, he was fine at Friday’s practice, then injured his hamstring. The question of how is part of the reason they released him. My understanding is it’s an overall trust issue for a player on thin ice.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2018
If you can’t trust a player to be available and put in hard work, it’s very difficult to recommend adding him.
While Gordon could add a potential spark to the Redskins receiving corps, as the idea of rotating him in with Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, and Jamison Crowder would be enticing, it would probably be best for them to stay away from Gordon. They have some veteran depth on the team, and Alex Smith has succeeded in the past without an elite receiving corps. Sure, Gordon could help out, but he’s just not worth the risk.
Redskins fantasy start/sit for Week 2 vs. Colts. dark. Next
If there were fewer problems with Gordon, I would definitely recommend that the team take a look at him. But for now, the team’s better served to leave their roster as it is and keep feeding on the energy that seems to be forming in their locker room. Gordon’s presence could create a distraction, especially if he doesn’t live up to expectations after being brought onto the squad.