The Cleveland Browns need a wide receiver after Josh Gordon was hit with a drug suspension and a trade could be the answer for the team, as names like Andre Johnson, Mike Wallace, Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson all could be options as new weapons for Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer and this comes after the Browns did not address the position in the draft.
The news on Gordon was not shocking, but it took some of the positive vibes from the Browns over draft weekend and now they have to find a way to make up his production, as he was one of the best wideouts in football last season. Gordon was a breakout player last season and now he could be out for the year and that puts the Browns in a tough spot and that means Greg Little and Nate Burleson will have to step up for the team. The Browns opted not to take Sammy Watkins in the draft despite knowing that Gordon was possibly facing a suspension and that could come back to bite the team.
The Browns and GM Ray Farmer said that they are comfortable with where they are at WR, but if they want to make a trade, there are some options. Andre Johnson has started to vent his frustrations about being in Houston, but it's unlikely that he would want to go to Cleveland and on top of that, his contract likely makes that move too tough. The same could be said for Mike Wallace, but he could be another option after the Dolphins shopped him earlier in the offseason.
Wallace signed a $50 million contract with the Dolphins and he did not play all that great last year, but he has breakaway speed like Gordon and he could be an explosive option for the Browns. The Dolphins could be willing to part with Wallace for a few reasons, including that they drafted LSU wideout Jarvis Landry in the draft, that Jeff Ireland was the one to sign him and not Dennis Hickey and also because he complained multiple times last season about the offense and that's the last thing a developmental QB like Ryan Tannehill needs.
No matter what, it will be very tough for the Browns to replace Gordon, as he led the league with 1,646 receiving yards last season and was the first player ever with two 200-yard games in a row. Gordon also made 87 catches and had nine touchdowns despite playing with Hoyer and Brandon Weeden and adding Johnny Manziel to the mix excited the whole city before this news broke.
The Dolphins also have Gibson and he could be an option over Wallace after Landry was drafted and while he was injured last season, he is coming back healthy and ready to go. Danny Amendola has come up in rumors multiple times since last season and with the Patriots having a young core in Kenbrell Thompkins, Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson, they could be willing to part with Amendola. The Gordon suspension hurts no matter what happens to the Browns and now fans can look to the 2015 season for when Manziel and Gordon can start hooking up on big plays.
