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3-Wide: Should the Browns trade Josh Gordon?

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.

Should the Browns trade Josh Gordon?

Jack Browne: Right now? No way. The Browns appear confident, at least publicly, in Gordon's ability to contribute to the team, with head coach Hue Jackson saying the receiver starts with a clean slate. But that doesn't mean Cleveland shouldn't entertain trade offers in the future. If Gordon comes back and plays anywhere close to his 2013 form, when he led the league with 1,646 receiving yards, then things could get interesting. He is undoubtedly an All-Pro level talent, but can the Browns risk giving him a long-term deal, especially given the fact they are far from competing? If Gordon proves himself in 2016, the smart decision might be for Cleveland to look to move him.

Dan Wilkins: Having stuck with him for this long, it would appear that the Browns are best suited to see this through. But now that he's just about cleared to return, Gordon's value is at its highest point in years. And who's to say he'll be the same dominant player? With an eye on the future, and certainly not in position to compete any time soon, Cleveland should at least see what the trade market looks like. A receiver-needy team offering up a mid-round pick would be tough to turn down.

Mitch Sanderson: It would certainly fit the front office's apparent strategy to lose a lot of games in hopes of bettering draft position, but this might be too much. Gordon is hands down the most dangerous weapon with any experience on the Browns roster and shipping him out of town for maybe a fifth-round pick might kill Hue Jackson. There's going to be so many unknown players in Browns camp, that getting rid of one of the few guys with any name recognition may be one step too far if the team wants any respect (or attention) from their fan base. He may not be the greatest role model, but he's better than nothing.


What should the Jets do with Geno Smith now that Ryan Fitzpatrick is back?

Wilkins: Let him compete. The Jets paid Fitzpatrick to get him back in the fold, but so what? This is still a journeyman quarterback who - despite what his inflated 2015 numbers may suggest - has always been a below average passer. At 33 years old, that's not going to change. The younger Smith has far more upside, and the Jets would be doing themselves a disservice if they lock in a starter before Week 1. Chan Gailey's offense can help Smith to minimize his mistakes and finally realize his potential. Fitzpatrick isn't the signal-caller to lead this team back to the playoffs, anyway.

Sanderson: Trade him. Just put Jets fans out of their misery and trade him. The team has already drafted two development projects in the last two seasons with Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. Why hang on to a guy who thinks putting the ball behind his back is a legitimate way to shake a tackle? Remember what happened last time he was supposed to be the starter? He got so cocky he couldn't be bothered to pay a teammate a couple hundred bucks to avoid a broken jaw. Trade him and forget the Geno Smith era ever happened.

Browne: Nothing. The Jets appear confident in Fitzpatrick, but he's still a wildly inconsistent passer who'll turn 34 during the season. If the Jets truly do have playoff aspirations, they can't have their season one play away from Petty or Hackenberg being under center. For all his faults, Smith is still a talented passer with experience as a starter. If he tries to force a move, then the Jets should look to get what they can for him through trade in order to not upset their locker room. But ending their relationship at this point only hurts New York's chances in 2016.

Which injured player who started camp on PUP/NFI are you most concerned about?

Sanderson: Eagles starting running back Ryan Mathews popped up on the non-football injury list for the start of camp with an ankle issue suffered while training on his own. The mystery of severity is cause for concern especially considering Mathews' promotion to starter. While he averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season, he had just 106 carries. The 28-year-old should ideally see all the reps he needs in camp to be ready to carry the load Week 1. Not being on the field from the first set of practices could put a burden on the Eagles' rushing attack.

Browne: Jordy Nelson's setback was described as a "hiccup," but with his importance to the Packers' offense highlighted last season when he was lost for the year, there definitely should be some concern. Nelson should overcome the new injury to his non-ACL knee, but we've seen many players suffer a serious injury and then struggle to regain full fitness because of other lingering ailments, with Victor Cruz being a prominent recent example. Nelson is 31 years old and coming off one of the worst injuries a receiver can endure. The Packers need him to be 100 percent come the start of the season, any less and their 2015 struggles might bleed into 2016.

Wilkins: Redskins first-rounder Josh Doctson was placed on the PUP list due to an Achilles issue he's been dealing with since May. Neither player nor team seem too concerned about the injury, but this one is certainly worth monitoring. Rookie wideouts need all the training camp and preseason reps they can get if they're going to make an immediate impact. As Washington hopes to avoid a dropoff from last year's impressive production in the passing game, Doctson emerging as a contributor is imperative.

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