The Cleveland Browns may look at a trade or release of Josh Gordon this offseason after dealing with multiple suspensions last year and in 2015, teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots or Minnesota Vikings could be interested in acquiring him if the Browns decide to part ways with the wideout.
Gordon is an explosive talent, but the way he ended the season could be a sign of how the Browns handle him in 2015. According to ESPN.com, the Browns suspended Gordon for the final game of the season after he was absent for the team walkthrough ahead of the last matchup with the Ravens on the Saturday before the season ended. ESPN.com also reported that Gordon was late on Friday for practice and that the reason he may have missed the function on Saturday was due to an alleged party thrown by Johnny Manziel.
While Manziel came out to say that he did not throw a party, he did admit to being with Gordon for some time during that night. Either way, the Browns were not pleased and that is why they placed him on the suspended list for the Week 17 game. Gordon led the league in receiving yards in 2013, but he was suspended for 10 games to start the 2014 season and he ended up active for five due to his suspension at the end of the year.
The move by the Browns also could signal that Gordon is ready to try and move on as well, as he was set to be an unrestricted free agent before the suspension. As Adam Schefter writes at ESPN.com, the move to take away a game check from Gordon by the Browns means that he only received five for this season, which means this is not an "accrued" season for his free agent status. That one check is a major loss, as Gordon now will be considered a restricted free agent and not an unrestricted one.
ESPN.com reports that Gordon and his agent will fight that decision, as they feel that he should be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Gordon and his reps will file a grievance about the move and if they win, it means that Gordon will get the chance for a bigger deal this offseason. If it stays, it means he can't be an unrestricted free agent until 2016. ESPN's Tony Grossi wrote after Ray Farmer's press conference last week that he thinks that Gordon will not be back next season and depending on how the grievance goes, that could be the end result.
Gordon is an electric player, but he returned and the Browns went just 1-4 and ended up gaining fewer yards per game with him in the lineup. Being out for 10 games likely affected his play, but the differences were not good, as the Browns faltered down the stretch after starting 7-4. Gordon comes in after putting up 87 catches for 1646 yards last season and this year he ended up with 24 catches for 303 yards and no TDs. If Gordon gets moved, teams like the Raiders, 49ers, Chiefs, Vikings and Colts all could be interested, as they could use more playmakers at WR.
