Last week, the New England Patriots acquired receiver Josh Gordon for the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth round draft pick. The trade is very safe for the Patriots with very little risk, in fact, if Josh Gordon isn’t active for the Patriots for at least 10 weeks, then New England gets a 7th round draft pick from the Browns.

Low Risk, High Reward

It’s a lottery ticket. The Patriots have made moves like this before, acquiring very talented players who have made some poor decisions and see if they can contribute any value to the team. Some recognizable examples in the past would be the moves made for Randy Moss, Albert Haynesworth, and Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson. 2/3 of these moves were bust for New England. Haynesworth, the once highly touted nose tackle for the Titans and Redskins, only suited up for six games with New England before his release. Chad Johnson only caught 15 balls during his time in Foxborough, a career low for him. Randy Moss on the other hand, thrived under the Belichick regime. Being on a championship caliber team only enhanced his drive and spurred him to be even better. Moss set the record for touchdowns caught in a season (23), and only one player has caught more touchdowns in their career from Tom Brady than Moss. The Patriots surely hope that Josh Gordon will Randy Moss type impact on the team. However, the man who led the league in 2013 in receiving yards and was a 1st team all pro player, has had trouble staying on the field. Gordon was suspended for two seasons for violation of the leagues substance abuse policy, so it appears as though Gordon may be on his last straw.

Gordon has only played in 11 games since the conclusion of the 2013 season, so there is no guess as to how he will perform on the field. However, if there is one place that could reign in the free flowing spirit of Josh Gordon, it would be in New England. Coach Belichick has no patience for those who place themselves before the priorities of the team. Veteran leaders in the locker room like Brady, Edelman, and Gronkowski will surely try and rub off “The New England Way” onto Gordon. It is no coincidence that Gordon’s locker was placed right next to TB12’s.

For more information on Haynesworth’s, Johnson’s, and Gordon’s game records, visit: Pro Football Reference