Arizona Cardinals Best Positioned For Josh Gordon Trade
By Erik Lambert
Word is multiple teams are sniffing around wide receiver Josh Gordon, but so far the Cleveland Browns aren’t interested in any sort of trade.
Reasons for that are obvious enough. Despite a standout performance from Terrell Pryor this preseason and the drafting of 1st round pick Corey Coleman, the only proven receiver the Browns have is Gordon. The former Pro Bowler may be facing another suspension but the team can’t afford to be picky at this point given the relative uncertainty at the position. It would seem other teams are banking on the belief that Cleveland is already looking towards 2017 and want to continue stockpiling picks.
Multiple teams have reached out to the Browns to inquire about the availability of WR Josh Gordon, per league... https://t.co/84cGMp42j8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2016
Or - the Browns are listening to offers for Josh Gordon and now are trying to see what else might be out there. https://t.co/16zN2eB0IW
— RotoViz Dynasty (@RotoVizDynasty) August 23, 2016
That being said there is always the chance they change their minds. Gordon doesn’t play the first four weeks of the season and the trade deadline is four weeks after his return. By that point Cleveland might have a different outlook on their short-term prospects and be willing to entertain offers. So the question becomes if a deal were to be made, which team makes the most sense?
The easy answer is the Arizona Cardinals.
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Follow the logic. This is a team that is loaded and ready for a Super Bowl run, meaning they can afford to take more significant risks like trading for Gordon. They already did it earlier this year in that deal for Chandler Jones. What Gordon will need is a head coach who can keep his scared and focused on his job, away from the off-the-field distractions. Bruce Arians is among the most respected in the NFL at such things.
Though Arizona seems set at wide receiver, it’s important to remember a few things. Larry Fitzgerald turns 33-years old at the end of August. Also both Michael Floyd and Jaron Brown will be free agents in 2017. Trading for Gordon would be a good piece of insurance against those potential problems. One can imagine the idea of a Fitzgerald-Floyd-Gordon combination with John Brown as the cherry on top for Carson Palmer to throw to.
Worse ideas have come and gone in the NFL. It’s just a matter of whether or not the Browns will eventually be willing to make him available.