Should the Redskins sign Antonio Brown or Josh Gordon?

The Washington Redskins seem as if they are set at wide receiver for 2020, but two intriguing free agent options are available.

It’s almost July. Halfway through a challenging 2020 for all of us. Times are difficult, but we can always count on sports to make everything better. Well, sort of.  We’re hoping sports can continue to return. NASCAR has returned, but only with a small number of fans in the stands. Baseball is returning soon. The NBA is close to resuming the 2020 season. The NHL is on track to return. And we hope football is on track to open team camps and play their full schedule this fall.

With the Washington Redskins just weeks away (possibly) from trainingcamp and the preseason, the roster is fully loaded and players will be returning to Redskins Park.  However, is the roster pretty much set or could there be any additional free agents signed in the coming weeks? Very few quality free agents remain on the open market and the team is unlikely to make any other major signings.  However, there are two very talented free agent wide receivers out there and we must ask — will the Redskins be interested in either player?

Football fans know the names — Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon. They are supremely talented.  Both are available to all teams, although Gordon is still suspended by the league for now. Is there any chance of the Redskins having an interest in Brown and/or Gordon? Here are the current wide receivers that are certainly locked into a roster spot at this time: Terry McLaurin, Steven Sims, Kelvin Harmon, and Antonio Gandy-Golden. Antonio Gibson is listed as a running back on the team site and is not included as a wide receiver on our list. Let’s assume the Redskins could field as many as six receivers this season. For purposes of this discussion, that leaves two open slots.

Earlier in the offseason, Cody Latimer was added to the roster, so let’s assume he has a place on the team. Latimer is a downfield threat any time he is on the field. That leaves just one roster position available according to our aforementioned projections. Emanuel Hall, a new addition this offseason, injured his achilles tendon this past week and he will miss the 2020 season. That leaves Isaiah Wright, Jordan Veasy, Trey Quinn, Cam Sims, Jester Weah, Johnathon Johnson, and Darvin Kidsy to battle it out for the final receiver spot on the roster of 53. At this juncture, let’s say that Cam Sims is probably heading back to the practice squad and two of these players will battle it out — Wright and Quinn, while the rest are released.

Finally, let’s talk about Gordon and Brown. Let’s start with Gordon. Here is a look at Josh Gordon’s history of problems and suspensions, including his time at Baylor University. It is certainly a long list that dates back to nine years ago. Nine years. Not three or four years. Again, nine years. He was kicked off the team at Baylor and has accrued five suspensions from the NFL and one suspension from the Cleveland Browns. He walked away for brief periods of time from the Browns (twice). Gordon was disciplined on several occasions by the Browns and New England Patriots. Honestly, the Redskins need to avoid Gordon and the NFL should kick him out for good.

This brings us to Antonio Brown. Here is a list of Brown’s issues over the years and it is nowhere near the length of Gordon’s numerous problems, but most of it is troubling. He severely divided the locker room in Pittsburgh and aired his grievances on social media instead of keeping it in-house. Brown publicly feuded with the Raiders and they released him after six months. He was accused of sexual assault. New England released him several days later after being in a Patriots uniform for nearly three weeks. Yes, he was a superb receiver with the Steelers for nearly nine seasons, but what has transpired since late 2018 is disturbing and the Redskins do not need that drama.

If the Redskins decide to add another pass catcher before the 2020 season opens, let it NOT be Josh Gordon or Antonio Brown. It will not be an advantage to sign either player and there is no need to add a superfluous amount of baggage to a young and talented receiving corps. It would likely end in disaster. Let’s focus on the positives and avoid the negatives.