Is Josh Gordon worth the hype?
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The NFL Supplemental Draft is rarely a front page event, primarily because even diehard football fans are terrified by a football term they cannot accurately explain. Former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon has been making waves since he declared for the Supplemental Draft and a few scouts have hinted he may have been selected prior to fellow former Bear Kendall Wright in April’s NFL Draft, selected #20 overall by the Tennessee Titans. Nearly every NFL team has scouted Gordon in the previous weeks and even 21 organizations turned out for his pro day on Tuesday, during which he pulled a groin running a 4.52 4o-yard dash. Gordon has excellent size at 6’4″ 225 lbs and hands to accompany above average speed but off-the-field issues caused him to miss the 2011 season at Baylor after he was dismissed in August.
Gordon then transferred to Utah and sat out last season per NCAA rules but later elected to enter the Supplemental Draft due to financial reasons, setting off a lightning storm of NFL teams seeking his services. He is not receiving the hype former Ohio State and current Oakland Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor had but his potential is turning heads. Is he really worth the hype? According to NFL.com writer Albert Breer, various scouts have called Gordon overhyped. It is hard enough to evaluate the worth of future prospects during the draft in April, with all 32 teams jockeying for position to draft one of 300+ players, but with the sparse group of available wide receivers Gordon’s value might just be that, overhyped. While surrendering a second round selection in the 2013 draft might be a high price to pay, a reasonable rookie contract and team babysitter could right the ship for Gordon and make him a Marques Colston-like steal.
By Andrew Doughty
Image: Manny Flores/ICON SMI
