The Green Bay Packers have an opportunity to appease Aaron Rodgers with the ultimate wide receiver acquisition: a reinstated Josh Gordon.
After seven arduous years and six NFL suspensions, longtime wide receiver Josh Gordon is finally getting reinstated and could play as early as Week 4.
However, which team is picking up the wide receiver is still up for debate — although the Green Bay Packers are one of a handful of teams that have chance at getting Gordon into All-Pro territory once again.
Rodgers made headlines this year when he campaigned for the Packers to trade for former Packer Randall Cobb during training camp.
“Obviously without Aaron, I don’t think we would probably be pursuing that, but he’s still a really good player,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Cobb in July. “This is a very important thing for Aaron, and that’s why we did it.”
Gutekunst added that the move wouldn’t have taken place “without Aaron adjusting his contract and kicking some money out.”
Who will sign Josh Gordon? Packers have a lot of incentive to make it happen
Rodgers entered the 2021 season amid controversy that he was unhappy with the Packers and may leave the team, which was furthered by his lax approach to offseason training.
As soon as Rodgers did begin training with the team, he campaigned to acquire Cobb almost immediately.
Rodgers wields the power to advocate for wide receivers, as proven by Cobb, so an argument for Gordon would give Rodgers even more star power in Green Bay.
Despite six suspensions in seven seasons, five of which are for violations of the substance abuse policy, Gordon remains a capable free agent because he was once the best wide receiver in the NFL.
During his historic 2013 season, Gordon racked up 1,646 yards in just 14 games, making the 2013 Pro Bowl and first-team All Pro for his performance. Since then, Gordon has been consistently troubled by substance abuse issues, eventually leaving the Cleveland Browns for the New England Patriots, then the Seattle Seahawks.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has been unclear about whether or not the team will resign Gordon, but if they don’t, the Packers would be an ideal landing spot for the ninth-year receiver. Gordon earned his “Flash” nickname for good reason: the speedy receiver could draw attention and receptions away from Davante Adams, slaying secondaries with the deep threat both present. Even if he only starts Week 4, a season with Rodgers and Adams could give this offense the push it needs for a dominating playoff run.
