NFL Rumors: Josh Gordon to the Philadelphia Eagles?

Wide receiver Josh Gordon returns to the NFL in 2016 per NFL.com reports, and seeing him in the midnight green of the Philadelphia Eagles might not be a bad thing.

The NFL reinstated Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon on Monday on a conditional basis. He’ll be allowed to participate in training camp, but he will serve a four-game suspension and won’t return until week five against the New England Patriots.

With Gordon’s future in Cleveland “on thin ice”, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, this could this be an opportunity for Philadelphia Eagles‘ vice president of football operations, Howie Roseman to get on the phone with the Browns again?

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Well, when asked about players with checkered pasts, head coach Doug Pederson told reporters on Wednesday, the team would have to research the player before making an offer to the team or player.

"“Those are things you research before signing those guys,” Pederson said. “A lot of places are different—different cultures, different cities, different organizations. I just know this: When they come to the Philadelphia Eagles there’s an expectation level that needs to be upheld, and it starts with me.“I have to be very clear from where I stand with the players, and the coaches for that matter. And I make sure they understand. Again, once they leave the facility their citizens, but at the same time they understand that the players represent their families, the Philadelphia Eagles and the entire organization.”"

And that’s been the problem for Gordon throughout his NFL career. His issues off of the field have put his success on the field on hold, but unlike past years when the Eagles wouldn’t consider players who have had issues off of the field under former head coach Chip Kelly, this year’s draft proved things are different now.

Three of the Eagles’ seven picks in this year’s NFL draft have checkered pasts, which displays a change of philosophy for the organization.

And one NFL Insider believes Gordon has chance of ending up in Philadelphia.

"“I wouldn’t be surprised if we look down the landscape that a receiver pops up,” ESPN NFL insider John Clayton said Tuesday on 97.5 The Fanatic. “Let’s say for example that the Cleveland Browns want to trade Josh Gordon. What teams might be interested? Philly might be one of those teams that would consider it. You’d be getting a great talent cheap and he would fit the outside spot.”"

Gordon is set to make $825,604 this season as a result of being suspended for the previous two seasons. He’s also set to become an restricted free agent this year, which could allow the Eagles to let him walk if he doesn’t pan out. As for the Browns, who invested five draft picks on wide receivers in this year’s draft, they could be ready to move on from the troubled wideout.

Gordon could step in after his suspension and immediately be a deep threat on the outside. With Gordon in the lineup, Jordan Matthews could move to the slot, a spot where he thrives and is able to use his big frame to create space in the middle of the field.

That would allow Matthews to play to his strengths, but it could also take some of the pressure off of other receivers like Nelson Agholor and Josh Huff to perform. Despite investing a second and third round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and a first round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on wide receivers, the Eagles have yet to find suitable replacements for DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin after losing them in back-to-back years.

In their season preview, Pro Football Focus ranked the Eagles’ wide receivers as the 29th best in the league. They’re also coming off a year where they lead the NFL in drops as a team with a total of 37, but as long as Gordon is willing to stay on the field, his play could be contagious in Philadelphia. His presence on the line of scrimmage makes defensive coordinators think twice about their coverage.

He’s created opportunities for others throughout his career and has been a reliable option for the quarterback, whether that quarterback has been Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden or Brian Hoyer. Sam Bradford would definitely be the best quarterback Gordon has played with.

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Bradford, who has struggled to get the ball down the field at times, would get a proven threat in Gordon, who averages 17. 1 yards per catch, and on top of that, his 161 receptions, 2,754-yards and 14 touchdowns in 35 games are exactly what the Eagles need on the outside this season.

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