WORTH THE GAMBLE
Let's discuss why the Texans should sign Josh Gordon if reinstated
Jun 23, 2020, 4:04 pm
Image via:WikiCommons
Josh Gordon, an All-Pro receiver in 2013, filed for reinstatement last Wednesday seeking another chance in the NFL. In December, the league suspended the 29-year-old wide receiver for violating its substance-abuse policy for the fifth time since 2013. In an interview with his lawyer, Adam Kenner, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network announced that Gordon's most recent relapse in 2019 was due to the death of his brother. Since that time, Gordon has installed the right team around him to make sure he stays on the right path.
If the league grants his request, Gordon will enter the free agency pool as an unrestricted free agent. He spent the 2019 season as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, recording seven receptions for 139 yards (19.9 AVG) in five games prior to his suspension.
Gordon is still one of the most gifted players in the league despite playing only 63 games in a span of eight seasons. He has tallied a career 4,252 reception yards (17.2 AVG) on 247 catches and 20 touchdowns, after the Cleveland Browns selected the Baylor prodigy in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Nearly all 32 teams could use Gordon's on-field talent to enhance their roster, but only a handful should risk adding the 6-foot-3 wide receiver given his off-field troubles. Of all the teams who should look to acquire the low-risk-high-reward receiver, the Houston Texans should be near the top of the list. Joining his hometown town team may be enough to keep the Houston native in good measures both on and off the field, while contributing to the Texans potential success in 2020.
Houston lost a lot this offseason by trading DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. Not only did they lose arguably the league's best receiver, but their No. 1 target since 2014. Head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien did a reasonable job rebuilding the receiving core, but the additions of Randall Cobb and Brandin Cooks may not be enough to fill the absence left by Hopkins' jettison.
In 2019, Cobb and Cooks recorded a combined 1,411 receiving yards (14.5 AVG) on 97 catches with five trips to the end zone. When compared to Hopkins, the four-time Pro-Bowler pulled down 104 catches for 1,165 receiving yards (11.2 AVG) and seven touchdowns in what was considered a "down season" last year.
If the Texans were to sign Gordon, he would be another substantial option who can further O'Brien's attempt to replace Hopkins. As a deep threat receiver who can create plays in double-coverage, Gordon possesses the skill set that would make him Houston's most talented wideout, and one that complements the play style of Deshaun Watson.
In his lone All-Pro season in 2013, Gordon showcased flashes of his high ceiling with 1,646 receiving yards (18.9 AVG) on 87 receptions and nine touchdowns in 14 games. That same season, he became the first player in league history to record 200 or more receiving yards in back-to-back games as a member of the Browns. Even in the most troublesome years of his career, Gordon was still a force to be reckoned with while on the field. Prior to his suspension, he posted a total of 1,007 receiving yards (16.2 AVG) on 60 catches in 17 games, during his two-year stint as a member of the New England Patriots.
With D-Hop out of the picture, Will Fuller has the opportunity to become Houston's No. 1 receiver. He has ingrained himself as the Texans' best playmaker averaging 14.3 yards per catch in 42 career games. Unfortunately, his ability to stay healthy makes it unenviable for Fuller to play a full 16-game season. Since 2017, he has only appeared in 28 out of a possible 48 games played due to a myriad of injuries.
There are also health concerns surrounding Kenny Stills (hamstring) and Brandin Cooks (concussion) — as the two receivers batted recurring injuries that limited their on-field production in 2019.
Health is the most vital concern surrounding the Texans' receiving core next season. And at this stage of his career, Houston should be willing to pay no more than the expected $2.0 million to sign Gordon as an affordable insurance policy. If either of the Texans' four receivers misses a significant amount of time due to injuries, Gordon can fill a void that will be a daunting task for the likes of Isaiah Coulter, Keke Coutee and Andre Carter.
With the amount of time missed due to multiple suspensions, Gordon may never live up to the high expectations he set during his first two seasons in the league. However, when mentally stable, he has been a constant nightmare for the opposing teams' secondary throughout his career. And if given the opportunity to join the likes of Cobb, Cooks, Fuller and Stills, the Texans will have multiple weapons heading into the new season while helping Gordon re-establish himself as one of the league's most prolific receivers.
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A new challenge awaits, and the Astros know what’s at stake
Jun 27, 2025, 2:05 pm
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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