2018 NFL CONTRACT PROJECTION: Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon

Josh Gordon Measureables

Height: 6-4
Weight: 220
Age: 26 (turns 27 April 13)
Experience: 2 accrued seasons
Status: Exclusive Rights Free Agent

Cleveland Browns Projected Cap Space (Top 51): $110.1M (per Over The Cap)

Josh Gordon Profile

Josh Gordon’s 2013 season is etched into the memory of the Cleveland Browns and fantasy football fans everywhere. However, his off-field troubles have dimmed a once extraordinarily bright future. It takes immense talent to be given so many chances to get right.

Gordon has never lacked talent; he possesses the skillset to be a #1 receiver and the cornerstone of an offense. He’s a size-strength-speed guy at the receiver position and utilizes these strengths during the route, at the catch point, and after the catch.

He’s a big body with great control of his frame, which makes competing with him for jump balls a tall task for any defender. When he gets his hands on the football, he’s one of the tougher receivers to get on the ground in the NFL.

In five games last season, Flash showed some of the same attributes he dominated the NFL with five seasons ago. Talent and potential have never been a question with Gordon, but even his amazing 2013 campaign started with something that has become synonymous with his career: an NFL suspension.

Despite entering the NFL in the 2012 Supplemental Draft, Gordon has only accrued two seasons (2012 & 2013) towards free agency, which makes him an Exclusive Rights Free Agent.

Gordon has missed 56 of 96 career games and missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons. At this point, there’s no reason for the Browns to make a long-term commitment in the Baylor product.

Josh Gordon Production

 

Team	Season	G	Tgt	Rec	Rec Yds	Rec TD	Yds/Rec	YAC/R	Rec Drop
CLE	2012	16	95	50	805	5	16.1	6.2	4
CLE	2013	14	159	87	1646	9	18.9	7.3	9
CLE	2014	5	47	24	303	0	12.6	6.7	2
CLE	2017	5	42	18	335	1	18.6	6.8	1
		40	343	179	3089	15	17.3	6.8	16

 

Leverage

As an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, Gordon has no bargaining power whatsoever. If the Browns offer him a one-year contract at the league minimum, Gordon has two choices: play for that deal or don’t play at all. Had he not been suspended numerous times, Gordon was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2015 season.

Gordon’s suspension for the last week of the 2014 season was extremely costly because it would have given him his sixth game towards an accrued season. Had he not been suspended for Week 17, Gordon would be a Restricted Free Agent—able to at least negotiate with other teams and a season away from unrestricted free agency.

Contract Projection

1-year, $790,000 contract

Although he’s only accrued two seasons towards free agency, Gordon has four Credited Seasons—the measure used to determine a player’s minimum salary. The CBA-mandated minimum salary for Gordon in 2018 is $790,000—all the Browns have to offer to retain his rights. With his track record, the Browns have no incentive to offer anything more.