Browns Reportedly Wanted 2nd-Round Pick in Potential Josh Gordon Trade

The Cleveland Browns made their desire to keep wide receiver Josh Gordon in the fold clear publicly, but a new report suggests they set an asking price during trade discussions.

According to NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, Cleveland asked for "a second-round pick and then some" during negotiations.

After being suspended for the entire 2015 season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, Gordon was reinstated in July and suspended for the first four games of the 2016 campaign.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, teams made inquiries about Gordon's availability during the ensuing weeks.

Despite that and the new report that the Browns had an asking price in place, head of football operations Sashi Brown told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal on Thursday that trading Gordon wasn't a consideration: "Listening [to trade offers] is probably a mischaracterization. We've said all we needed to say about it. We're not looking to trade Josh."   

Gordon has played in just five NFL regular-season games since the end of the 2013 season, but he has proved to be among the NFL's elite wideouts when he is on the field.

The former Baylor and Utah standout led the league with 1,646 receiving yards to go along with nine touchdowns in just 14 games during a 2013 season that saw him named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team.

Gordon is still just 25 years of age and has plenty of good football ahead of him provided he stays out of trouble and hasn't dropped off during his time away.

The Browns lost wide receiver Travis Benjamin in free agency, and although they selected Corey Coleman in the first round of this year's draft, they need an established pass-catcher quarterback Robert Griffin III can rely upon on the outside.

Gordon can be that guy, and even though some enticing offers may have come their way, the Browns likely see more value in keeping one of the NFL's most dynamic playmakers.   

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