How do the Browns replace suspended Josh Gordon?
WR Josh Gordon has been suspended without pay for at least one year. What do the Browns do now?
By
Jared Dubin
•
2 min read
The NFL announced Tuesday that Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended without pay for at least one year for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
In a statement, Browns general manager Ray Farmer expressed "disappointed to once again be at this point with Josh," adding, "It is evident that Josh needs to make some substantial strides to live up to the positive culture we are trying to build this football team upon. Our hope is that this suspension affords Josh the opportunity to gain some clarity in determining what he wants to accomplish moving forward and if he wants a career in the National Football League."
So what does this mean for the Browns?
The Browns were already short on weapons in the passing game, and now they'll lose their best one. Gordon is by far the most talented of Cleveland's receivers, and he likely will not be available for the entirety of the 2015 season. Whoever enters the year as the starting quarterback -- whether it's Manziel, Hoyer or someone else -- will be throwing to a crew that was very uninspiring last season and could be even more so if tight end Jordan Cameron leaves in free agency.
The holdovers from last year include Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin (also a free agent) and Taylor Gabriel. Hawkins is mostly a slot guy and possession receiver, while Gabriel showed some wiggle as a deep threat at times last year. Austin is a veteran who knows how to get open, but he has struggled staying healthy since his days in Dallas.
The Browns would be wise to build their offense around Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West and the running game. Through the early part of the 2014 season, Cleveland was near the top of the league in offensive DVOA thanks to a strong rush offense. The running game collapsed when center Alex Mack went down for the season with an injury. Once he comes back healthy and teams with left tackle Joe Thomas and left guard Joel Bitonio, though, Cleveland has the ability to punish teams on the ground. The Browns do have two first-round picks with which they can pick up additional weapons -- their own at No. 12 and Buffalo's at No. 19, thanks to the Sammy Watkins trade -- but they have needs all over the field and may not want to spend high picks on the receiving corps, especially when they have 10 selections layered throughout the draft, most in the NFL as of this writing (compensatory picks have not yet been awarded).
Worth noting: NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang and Dane Brugler have the Browns taking a wide receiver with one of their two first-round picks -- Rang with the 19th selection (Michigan's Devin Funchess), and Brugler with the 12th selection (West Virginia's Kevin White).
