A few days ago I opened up this conversation with a couple of player moves NFL teams should make that some might call a little crazy. But now I’m about to get nuts.
The Panthers should trade for Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon is never going to make it Cleveland. Whatever keeps getting him suspended there is just going to keep happening. If it happens again, he won’t be worth anything to the Browns or any NFL team. He needs a change of scenery and no place in the NFL would be better for him than Carolina.
My guess is the Browns would give up Gordon for a fifth round pick. For that pick Ron Rivera and Cam Newton could remake Gordon into a professional NFL player, all for the low, low price of $1.068 million, which is what Gordon will make this season. After that he’s an RFA, which means the Panthers could tender him at a high amount, still below what he’s probably worth, and recoup a draft pick if another team signs him. What have they got to lose?
If Gordon screws up, a million bucks in a cap hit is a small price to pay. Teams eat more than that on cuts all the time. But if Gordon pays off, the Panthers could be even more explosive on offense than they already were. They were already the No. 1 ranked offense last year and that was without Kelvin Benjamin. Now imagine Benjamin and Gordon playing together with Newton slinging them the ball.
In 2013 Gordon was the most productive wideout in the NFL. He led the league with 1,646 yards receiving on 87 catches and scored nine touchdowns. Putting him on this Panthers team would almost be unfair. That’s exactly why they should do it.
The Patriots should sign Josh Freeman
Three years ago Josh Freeman was the “next great quarterback” and looked like he’d settle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ QB situation down for the next decade. Then Greg Schiano happened and Freeman’s career has never recovered.
Freeman’s arm talent is not in dispute and the fact that NFL teams keep people like Sean Renfree, Matt Simms and Dan Orlovsky around while players with the physical skills of Freeman and Vince Young are run out of the league is a mystery to me.
That’s why Freeman would be such a good pick up for the New England Patriots. They couldn’t just sign him to a one-year deal. He’d need a three-year, league minimum deal and he could develop in their system while Tom Brady finishes up his career. After seeing the Jimmy Garoppolo era begin last week, I wouldn’t be comfortable with him as the team’s future and there’s no reason to screw around in the draft when a guy like Freeman is sitting on his couch. Bring him in. Coach him up. What’s the worst that could happen? He ends up another Scott Zolak?
The Broncos should trade for Geno Smith
Alright, hear me out. I’ve crapped on Geno Smith as much as anybody and, you know, I’ve had a lot of fun with it. But the truth is, Smith isn’t that bad.. No, he’s not an NFL starting quarterback, but a good 10 or 12 NFL teams don’t have an NFL starting quarterback, including the team that Smith is currently on. Smith has been beaten out by Ryan Fitzpatrick after getting his face beat in by IK Enemkpali (which I just spelled right on the first try) last season.
Smith is a back up, but he’s a decent one. And categorically better than Mark Sanchez and Trevor Seimian, the quarterbacks currently dueling for the honor of getting benched after two starts for the Denver Broncos this season.
Smith could be had for a sixth or even seventh round pick and is better than probably any player the Broncos would pick in those spots next year. Smith appeared in one game last season, completed 27-of-42 passes for 265 yards (a 64.3 completion percentage) for two touchdowns and a pick. That’s not bad. He went 8-8 as a starter as a rookie with a good defense. The Broncos have a great defense.
With Sanchez, maybe the Broncos go 8-8 at best. What he lacks in arm strength and accuracy, Sanchez makes up for in douchiness and stupidity. Every quarterback can have a dumb or bad play, but there’s a reason the butt fumble is the signature moment of Mark Sanchez’s career.
With Smith, there’s a good chance the Broncos could win 10 games. Smith’s second season was also his last as a full-time starter. He completed 59.7 percent of his passes in 14 games for 2,525 yards and 13 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. Last year the Broncos won the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning at quarterback who completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,249 yards and nine touchdowns with 17 interceptions.
It would work.
