Why the Redskins may not be the best fit for receiver Josh Gordon

After being released from Injured Reserve by the New England Patriots, Josh Gordon will be on waivers. While he is a talented receiver, the Redskins probably shouldn’t claim him because of their organizational dysfunction.

Since breaking into the league as a second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft, Josh Gordon has been a talented receiver. In 2013, Gordon led the league in receiving yards with 1,646 and the then-22-year-old seemed to have a bright future in the NFL.

Unfortunately, over the course of the next six seasons, Gordon dealt with substance abuse issues. And every time he got back on the field, it seemed that he was quickly yanked once again for another suspension.

Over the course of the past couple of seasons with the New England Patriots, Gordon played in 17 games and caught 60 passes for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns. He was solid and still showed flashes of the downfield playmaking ability that made him such a threat in his early years in the league.

More from Riggo's Rag

However, the team elected to place him on IR following the acquisition of Mohamed Sanu despite the fact that Gordon had only a minor injury. That ended his Patriots tenure. And now, after his release from IR this week, he will be available on waivers.

The Washington Redskins could have some interest in Josh Gordon. Right now, the team has Terry McLaurin at receiver, but their other weaponry is lacking. Paul Richardson hasn’t quite panned out yet while Trey Quinn, Kelvin Harmon, and Steven Sims Jr. are still developing. Gordon would add talent to the receiver room and is on a reasonable contract. So, in some senses, this would be a no-brainer, right?

Not necessarily.

Because of Gordon’s ongoing battles with substance abuse, he needs to be a part of an organization that is willing to support him through thick and thin. In fact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that Gordon is “hoping to land in a good, supportive situation.” That doesn’t exactly sound like the Redskins.

If you need an example of why, just look at the recent saga surrounding Trent Williams. The team misdiagnosed a rare form of cancer that Williams had and could have cost him his life. When Williams demanded a trade away from the squad, they refused to even make him available until a couple of days before the deadline. And they wouldn’t rework his deal or admit that their mistake either.

The Redskins’ inability — or lack of desire — to support Williams is alarming. And if they can’t help one of their longest-tenured players, it doesn’t seem likely that they will be able to support Gordon enough to keep him on the right track.

That said, the Redskins aren’t going to think that way. With Bruce Allen in charge, they still think they’re in the right and that they could support Gordon as needed to keep him healthy physically and mentally. So, it’s fathomable that they could put in a claim for Gordon.

Any team that does claim Gordon will be getting a solid player. And, he’s not too expensive, as he’s only due about $1 million for the rest of the season. From a personnel standpoint, adding Gordon makes sense for many of the NFL’s teams. But for a team like the Redskins, they would have to think twice about claiming Gordon.

We’ll soon know if the Redskins do claim Gordon. They’ll have the third waiver priority this week behind the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals. Right now, it looks like the Dolphins would be their only competition to land Gordon, as ESPN’s Josina Anderson is reporting the Bengals won’t claim Gordon.

dark. Next. Five Redskins to watch in Week 9 vs. Bills

Miami could end up being the destination for Gordon. They have minimal talent and the coaching staff there worked with Gordon in New England. Notably, Miami offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea was the receivers coach for the Patriots, so if he trusts Gordon, he could make the case to bring him aboard.

Home/Commanders News