The Cleveland Browns announced their plan to move on from wide receiver Josh Gordon over the weekend, saying they will look to trade him by Monday and release him if unable to work out a deal.
Since then, there have been reports that numerous teams have called the Browns about Gordon’s services, and on Monday it appears one familiar Browns trade partner has emerged as the front runner. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the New England Patriots are “close” to a deal for the talented but troubled receiver.
The #Patriots are getting close on a deal for #Browns WR Josh Gordon, source said. Not official yet but headed that way.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2018
Later in the afternoon a deal was agreed to, with the Patriots sending Cleveland a conditional fifth round pick for Gordon, with a stipulation of him needing to be active for 10 games.
Trade now agreed to: Patriots are sending Cleveland a 5th-round pick and if Gordon isn't active for 10 games, Patriots get back a late-round pick from Browns, sources tell ESPN.
As @rapsheet reported, Patriots were closing in on trade for Gordon.
Trade now official.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2018
Full compensation trade update: Patriots send Browns a 2019 fifth-round pick for WR Josh Gordon and get back a 2019 seventh-round pick if he is not active for 10 games, source tells ESPN. Trade was supposed to be for a 6th-round pick, but Patriots don't have a 6th.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2018
Gordon is also medically cleared to go, with an MRI on his hamstring coming back negative.
New #Patriots WR Josh Gordon had an MRI on his hamstring and I’m told it came out fine. That means… Gordon could play for New England in Week 3.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2018
Somewhat hilariously, this is the second former Browns wide receiver added to the Patriots roster this season, as they picked up Corey Coleman last week after he was let go by the Bills, who traded for him during camp. Coleman and Gordon won’t be reunited, though, as Coleman is the roster culprit of the trade, as he’s been released to create space for Gordon, who of course, is a much bigger name and has the chance to have a much greater impact on the Patriots’ passing game.
Source: in order to make room for Josh Gordon, the Patriots are cutting recently-signed WR Corey Coleman.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 17, 2018
The question with Gordon, as always, is where he’s at with regards to his mental health and battles with substance abuse. Gordon missed a portion of camp to try and get himself right, but there have been reports and speculation that the Browns choosing to move on from Gordon have to do with more than just being late for a meeting. The Patriots have a history of rehabilitating players’ careers, and if you were to pick any spot that seems like a great fit for Gordon it would be there.
The super talented receiver, if he were to buy into the structure and the culture in New England, could blossom there in a way that he hasn’t been able to in Cleveland, where culture and structure has never been a strong point during his tenure.
