Cleveland Browns: Who Is The One Player That Must Stay?
By Ryan Rosko
Wide Receiver Josh Gordon
Nick Dudukovich
Josh Gordon! I wrote about how the analytical view of trading Gordon suggests trading him because he is not someone you can count on, and it would make more sense to get some draft picks for him, rather to have him fail another test and sit out the year.
Joe Banner tried to do it, and frankly, I will not be surprised to see chief strategy officer Paul Depodesta and vice president of football operations Sashi Brown try the same thing. But Browns head coach Hue Jackson jokingly calling his receivers “Smurfs” on Sirius radio spoke volumes about the Browns as an offense. The guy who coached Cincinnati wide receivers Chad Johnson and A.J. Green knows how you win games in the NFL.
The Browns needs playmakers! How do you help a quarterback grow? Give him a ball-hawking wideout who can jump out of the stadium on a fade route in the end zone.
Ryan Rosko
There is no question that the Cleveland Browns need more offensive talent. When Josh Gordon is allowed to play for the Browns again, he will instantly help their offense. Yes, even with Gordon’s help the Browns will still need to acquire more talent but Gordon is crucial to any future success.
Other position players are also important, but since Cleveland is already limited on offense, there is no reason to add to that deficit. Gordon’s history does make some pause, but his on-field play and potential is outstanding. If the Browns can get a good quarterback and other play-making players on offense, Gordon’s impact on games would be even greater.
That is because defenses will not be able to solely focus on him like they did in the past.