Fooch’s update: The trade is complete. Per Adam Schefter, the Patriots are trading a fifth round pick to Cleveland. If Gordon isn’t active for 10 games, the Patriots get back a late-round pick from Cleveland.
The New England Patriots have a struggling wide receiver corps, but they might be adding some serious potential to the group. The Patriots are talking to the Cleveland Browns about a trade for wide receiver Josh Gordon, per NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.
The Browns announced on Sunday that they planned on releasing Gordon. That was viewed by most as a way to spark some trade discussions. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch told local media on Sunday the 49ers had inquired about Gordon and were doing their due diligence on him.
It is not surprising the 49ers would not end up pulling the trigger on a deal. The wide receiver depth chart has a lot of questions, but there is talent to build around. Josh Gordon would likely be an upgrade over some members of that group, but the team seems comfortable moving forward with them. And given the issues Gordon has staying on the field, the 49ers likely decided the risk was not worth the potential reward.