Should the Los Angeles Rams Go After Josh Gordon, Assuming He’s Reinstated?

Cleveland Browns’ wide reciever Josh Gordon is hopeful for a return to the NFL in 2017. And according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, he may find out as soon as late April whether commissioner Roger Goodell will lift the indefinite ban on his suspension for drug use.

But reinstatement doesn’t guarantee Gordon a spot on the Browns’ roster. In fact, it’s far more likely the Browns - who have his rights for two more years - would look to trade, then possibly release, him.

What's best for our football team is that we move forward and move on. He's not going to be with us and we wish him well, but we're moving forward. We're going to move on.

That’s a quote from Browns’ head coach Hue Jackson (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com) from late September of 2016. And considering Gordon’s off-the-field issues, it’s understandable how Jackson would want to move on.

Gordon, who turns 26 in April, hasn’t played in an NFL game since Dec. 21, 2014 as a result of his suspension.

But it sounds as if he’s taking the necessary steps to sway Goodell’s opinion. On Friday, Graziano noted that Gordon is working out with Tim Montgomery in Gainesville, FL. Montgomery, a former Olympian who had drug problems of his own, has since turned his life around and works with Numa Speed, an organization that "focuses on helping athletes build self-confidence and avoid social and professional pitfalls in the face of substance abuse and peer pressure."

The burning question - assuming he’s reinstated and the Browns are truly ready to move on from “Flash” Gordon - is not only who will be interested, but what will it cost?

Should the Los Angeles Rams Show Interest?

Well yeah. In 2013, a season in which Gordon played in only 14 games, he lead the entirety of the NFL in receiving yards (1,646), and finished with nine touchdowns. The last time a Rams’ receiver lead the NFL in that category was in 2003 — when Torry Holt finished with 1,696 yards. Since then, as many of you know, Kenny Britt’s 1,002 yard performance of 2016 was the team’s first 1,000+ yard season since 2007 (again, Holt).

Why the Rams Should

It’s pretty simple. He’d immediately be the biggest, most talented wide receiver on their offense.

Why the Rams Won’t

Because the new coaching staff - McVay and Co. - has made it clear that “culture” is important (in his introductory press conference). And bringing in high-character, locker room guys like Andrew Whitworth, Robert Woods, and Kayvon Webster has been their aim. Gordon, though an immediate/potential upgrade, just doesn’t fit the bill.

The Rams weren’t serious players on DeSean Jackson in free agency. There were no rumors of a move for Terrelle Pryor. And, assuming he’s reinstated, I don’t expect the Rams to be in play for Josh Gordon.

But that shouldn’t stop us from discussing the matter.

In YOUR opinion, armchair GM of the Los Angeles Rams, what would you be willing to do in order to obtain the services of Josh Gordon?

Would you cough up a draft pick? And if so, which round?

Assuming he hits free agency, are you going to outbid other teams to acquire a potential No. 1 WR? And what does that contract look like?