The decision to part ways with Josh Gordon leaves the Browns with a hole at wide receiver. The hole is just the right size to fill with Dez Bryant.
The Cleveland Browns have dropped a bombshell on the entire NFL with their decision to end their relationship with Josh Gordon. No matter how they divest themselves of Gordon, they’re going to need to sign a wide receiver to replace him. Dez Bryant is the obvious solution for the Browns.
Bryant visited the Browns during the preseason but left Cleveland without agreeing to a deal. Reports claimed that John Dorsey and company offered the former Cowboys receiver a contract, but the terms weren’t sufficient in Bryant’s estimation. His salary demands are at least part of the reason he’s still a free agent.
At the time the Browns made their initial offer, they really didn’t need another receiver. Jarvis Landry is firmly entrenched as one of Tyrod Taylor’s favorite targets. Antonio Callaway gives the team another talented, but troubled pass catcher. Adding a potential Pro Bowler like Gordon to that mix gave Hue Jackson one of the most intriguing receiver groups in the league.
Taking Gordon out of the equation opens up a lot of potential targets for a player like Bryant. He doesn’t play the receiver position like Gordon, but he does have the ability to draw significant attention from opposing defenses. Now that the Browns need another player to create room for the rest of their pass catchers, signing Bryant makes a lot more sense.
Don’t be surprised if the Browns look elsewhere though. There seem to be some hard feelings about Bryant’s decision to spurn their initial offer. Rumors bouncing around the building that questioned whether the former Cowboys star really still wants to play football seem to indicate the Cleveland front office isn’t enamored with the idea of signing Bryant any longer.
Assuming the Browns don’t go back in for Bryant, expect them to try to acquire a speedster who can stretch the field. Those sorts of players aren’t readily available at this point in the season, but Cleveland will turn over every rock in hopes of finding a suitable replacement for Gordon.
The simple truth is that the Browns and Bryant both need each other. Gordon’s departure leaves the team with the need to find a receiver who can really occupy the defense’s attention. Bryant needs a team who can give him enough opportunities to shine to give him a chance to revive his career.
The Browns bringing Bryant in makes too much sense not to happen. Then again, this is the Browns we’re talking about. There’s no guarantee they will reach back out to the talented wideout.