Philadelphia Eagles: Would Wide Receiver Josh Gordon Be a Good Addition?

The Philadelphia Eagles are set to enter 2012 with a fine group of wide receivers in DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant. Jackson is a two-time Pro Bowler who was recently re-signed to a five-year, $51 million contract; Maclin is a former first-round pick who is at full health after dealing with a cancer scare last training camp; and Avant is one of the game’s best slot receivers.

And that group could only get better if the Eagles acquired former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon in this year’s supplemental draft. Gordon is 6’4” and 225 pounds, and he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Gordon was on track to be a stellar wide receiver at Baylor after a promising sophomore campaign.

He was suspended, however, for marijuana possession, transferred to Utah and never played a down there. Gordon had a good second year after registering just one catch as a freshman, but that’s it for his collegiate action.

The Eagles don’t have their fourth receiver set heading into next year. Riley Cooper returns as the favorite, but the team is also high on Damaris Johnson. Chad Hall spent 2011 on the team as a running back and wide receiver utility man, but I don’t see him making the team simply because he didn’t make much of an impact a year ago.

Marvin McNutt was drafted in the sixth round this past year; and while he will almost certainly make the team, he might be just the fifth receiver. Gordon has the size and leaping ability to make an impact, and he would be a terrific complement to Jackson and Maclin. It may not be worth the Eagles giving up a second-round pick in next year’s draft for him, but a third-round pick might not be a bad idea.