Minnesota Vikings Should Trade for Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon

With the signing of ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman, the Minnesota Vikings took another step toward building a dynamic offense in the competitive NFC North.

Now, it’s time to find some weapons for the signal-caller.

The rebuilding Cleveland Browns are reportedly listening to offers for star wide receiver Josh Gordon. It’s expected that they’d flip the wideout for a second-round draft pick.

Minnesota already has a strong receiving corps featuring Greg Jennings, Jerome Simpson and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson. Gordon, however, would come in and be the unquestioned No. 1 target in this offense.

The Brown has caught 18 passes for 304 yards, averaging over 100 yards a game, while hauling in two touchdown catches. He’s managed to be successful despite the fact that Cleveland has been in flux at the quarterback position.

Pairing Gordon with a big-armed passer like Freeman would allow the Vikings to take the top off of opposing defenses. After drafting three players in the first round of the 2013 draft, the team doesn’t desperately need a second-round pick in 2014.

Adding the Cleveland wideout would also give the Vikings the freedom to move Jennings into the slot, where the former Green Bay Packer fits best. The route combinations possible with Gordon and Jennings on one side of the football would be something out of this season’s Denver Broncos playbook, where Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker are working off of one another to dominate opponents.

Another variable not even being considered is that Minnesota has the best running back in all of football in Adrian Peterson. After years of succeeding in a confined offense with Christian Ponder, Peterson would thrive in a more spread-out look with Freeman, Gordon, Jennings and friends.

In just two weeks, the Vikings could go from having an abysmal offensive unit to being one of the league’s most explosive groups. Don’t forget that Kyle Rudolph is also on this team, and giving him more opportunities to catch passes down the seam would be a big positive for the Vikings.

Adding Gordon would give Minnesota the chance to get Rudolph, Jennings and Peterson, among others, more touches in space.

It’s a common-sense move for a Vikings team on the brink of being dynamic.