Cowboys: Should Dallas Trade For Josh Gordon?
By Dink Kearney
Dallas Cowboys wide receivers were mediocre without a healthy Dez Bryant this past season, so should America’s Team take a chance on wide receiver Josh Gordon?
When All Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant went down with a foot injury, the expectation was that wide out Terrance Williams would step up and be the Cowboys primary receiver. The belief was that fellow receivers Cole Beasley and Devin Street would showcase their talents, especially Street. This past season was supposed to be Street’s breakout year.
What better time to shine when the Dallas Cowboys primary receiver is on the mend?
Well, it didn’t take long to figure out the Cowboys’ receivers were mediocre or just plain awful without Bryant in the lineup.
Not having Bryant was bad enough, but when starting quarterback Tony Romo went down with a broken clavicle in week two against the Philadelphia eagles, the season was a lost cause for the team and the receiving corps.
The receivers’ flaws were magnified to the fullest extent. We found out Williams is inconsistent in his route running, drops passes, and can’t beat man coverage very often. Beasley dropped passes, too, and didn’t fend off defenders for balls that led to interceptions.
Street played so poorly he’ll be lucky to make the roster next season.
Brice Butler showed flashes of his talent and performed well, definitely better than Williams and Street combined. If not for a nagging hamstring issue, Butler would have done more.
Now that the Cowboys know that they have a mediocre receiving corps, should Dallas trade for troubled wide out Josh Gordon of the Cleveland Browns?
I know the majority of Cowboys Nation are against such a move. The reasons are understandable and makes sense. Gordon has been suspended indefinitely by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy.
Gordon is seeking reinstatement after missing the entire 2015 season. If Gordon is reinstated, here is why the Cowboys should consider a trade.
Prior to his suspension, Gordon was a top-5 WR in the NFL. Depending on who you asked, he was one of the best in the game. In 2013, Gordon’s best professional season, Gordon led all wide receivers with 1,646 receiving yards with 87 receptions in 14 games.
Gordon averaged 18.9 yards a catch to go with 9 touchdowns.
Gordon was targeted 159 times that season. He averaged 117. 6 receiving yards a game with Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden, and Brian Hoyer as the quarterbacks. That alone tells you how talented Gordon is.
If Gordon can put up 1,646 yards with those three as quarterbacks, imagine what he can do with Romo throwing him the ball. With Bryant on the other side, Beasley in the slot and the reliable Jason Witten at tight end, opposing defenses would have to pick some potent poison. Defenses would be in a quandary because there isn’t a defensive back a healthy Dez Bryant can’t beat.
The same goes for Gordon, who just dominated defensive backs en route to his best season a professional.
The Cowboys should trade for Gordon for a low end draft pick. It’s low-risk, high-reward, for sure. The Cowboys could sign Gordon to an incentive laden contract similar to the one defensive end Greg Hardy signed.
The Cowboys will have the leverage. If Gordon doesn’t work out, Dallas can move on and not suffer major consequences.
Another reason the Cowboys should trade for Gordon is because he’ll increase their chances of going to the Super Bowl. It’s that simple. Today’s NFL is offensive dominated, with all of the rules favoring the offense. In the NFC East, where no team has a dominant defense, the Cowboys would clearly have the best wide receiving corps, displaying offensive fireworks in every game.
With Gordon, the Cowboys running game gets better because opposing defenses will have to find ways to stop Bryant, Gordon, and the running game. If a defense decides to stack the box, Bryant and Gordon will make them pay dearly.
At 6’3″ and 225 lb, Gordon has the size and power to dominate defensive backs. Gordon has good speed and hands taboot. Gordon reminds me of Terrell Owens, and he strides like a horse when he runs. Once Gordon catches the ball, there is no catching him.
Here are Gordon’s 2013 highlights. Gordon is a human highlight reel.
After watching Gordon’s highlight reel, you walk away beyond impressed. What’s more impressive is that Gordon had back-to-back 200 yards receiving games. That’s unbelievable because Gordon was playing with below average quarterbacks, as I’ve mentioned before.
In the above video, he manhandled defensive backs, especially on his 95-yard touchdown reception, where he catches the ball in stride and stiff arms the helpless defender.
That was pure strength and speed.
Gordon has similar qualities to Bryant, in terms of how they attack the football and run routes. Both are determined and play as if they are the best at what they do.
I’m very aware of Gordon’s recreational drug use, a bad habit that has plagued Gordon since college. For Gordon, maybe he can show Goodell that he’s kicked his drug habit for good and ready to use his God given talent.
To be clear, I’m not advocating Gordon as replacing Bryant as the Cowboys number one receiver. Simply put, Bryant is one of the best wideouts when healthy, if not the best. I’m advocating for Gordon to be Batman to Bryant’s Superman.
There is nothing wrong with having two Super heroes on the same team, with aspirations of winning the Super Bowl.
If the Cowboys can take a chance on Greg Hardy, the media’s equivalent of the bad guy, then Dallas can take a chance on Gordon. Gordon is a low-risk, high-reward player. Besides if Gordon fails, the Cowboys still have Bryant.
Remember, Gordon would be a valuable addition to an already talented team, not the center piece.
It’s been 20 years since the Cowboys have won the coveted Lombardi Trophy.
Next: Cowboys: Why Carson Wentz At No. 4 Might Happen
American’s Team is long overdue for a Super Bowl parade.
So Jerry Jones, why not take a chance on a talented and freakish receiver who can help you win it all?