It looks like Cleveland's yard sale is just getting started. Just three weeks after trading 2012 first-round draft pick Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts, the Browns are reportedly discussing a move that would send WR Josh Gordon to the San Francisco 49ers.
Gordon, a second-year player out of Baylor, had an excellent rookie season for the Browns, catching 50 passes for 805 yards and 5 touchdowns. Gordon missed the first two games of the the 2013 season after being suspended for a violation of the NFL's drug policy, but the Browns have won three straight games since his return to the lineup. In that stretch, Gordon has caught 18 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns.
The 49ers have struggled to find a Wide Receiver to fill in for Michael Crabtree (out until mid-November recovering from a torn achilles tendon), and have leaned heavily on Anquan Boldin so far. Having an additional weapon to spread the field would help restore some of San Francisco's offense, which has underwhelmed through their first five games.
The built-for-now 49ers wouldn't hesitate to send a second-round draft pick to Cleveland, and that reportedly lines up with the asking price Cleveland GM Michael Lombardi is looking for. Lombardi has been a vocal critic of Gordon in the past, labeling him as a "waste of a draft pick" while he was still working as an analyst.
Cleveland fans will no doubt be angry to see yet another potential star leave as the Browns gear up for yet another retrofit, but this move makes perfect sense for a 49ers team looking to add depth to their receiving corps. It doesn't sound like a move is imminent, but we'll keep you updated on this story as things develop.
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