Josh Gordon put up crazy-good numbers last year. He started the year with a two-game suspension, recall. Once he came back, he was the best wide receiver in the league – put up the best numbers anyway.
He also made a ridiculous number of big plays.
Gordon’s 9 TDs came from an average of 49 yards. He gained 437 yards on those scoring plays alone.
In the last 10 years, only 18 receivers have averaged over 40 yards on scoring passes while getting in the end zone at least a half-dozen times.
| LONG-RANGE SCORING THREATS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg | TD | Year | Receiver |
| 54.7 | 6 | 2010 | DeSean Jackson |
| 52.4 | 7 | 2008 | Bernard Berrian |
| 52.0 | 9 | 2011 | Victor Cruz |
| 50.2 | 6 | 2007 | Joey Galloway |
| 49.1 | 8 | 2006 | Lee Evans |
| 48.6 | 9 | 2013 | Josh Gordon |
| 45.6 | 9 | 2009 | DeSean Jackson |
| 44.0 | 6 | 2011 | Pierre Garcon |
| 43.7 | 9 | 2005 | Santana Moss |
| 43.1 | 9 | 2010 | Mario Manningham |
| 42.8 | 6 | 2005 | Kevin Curtis |
| 42.1 | 8 | 2011 | Julio Jones |
| 42.0 | 6 | 2006 | Santana Moss |
| 41.8 | 6 | 2009 | Hakeem Nicks |
| 41.7 | 7 | 2012 | Cecil Shorts III |
| 40.8 | 6 | 2009 | Mike Wallace |
| 40.7 | 10 | 2010 | Mike Wallace |
| 40.0 | 7 | 2010 | Braylon Edwards |
In my eyes, Gordon will be one of the key decisions for everyone to make at drafts this summer. Is he an elite receiver? He’s had a lot of off-field problems, which is a concern, and he’ll also be in a new offense – the Browns flushed out their coaching staff, recall, including offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
Gordon probably will be around in the second rounds of drafts. Do you take him there? And if he slips to the third, do you pass on him there?
—Ian Allan