Tom Brady could be the biggest beneficiary of another Bill Belichick reclamation project.
The Patriots have reportedly completed a trade with the Browns to land troubled yet talented wide receiver Josh Gordon, according to ESPN, in exchange for a fifth-round pick. If Gordon is not active for 10 games, the report states, Cleveland would send New England a late-round pick.
Cleveland announced Saturday that it planned on releasing the 27-year-old, before realizing compensation likely would be available from a team looking to add the former Pro Bowler, who led the league in receiving yards in 2013.
Gordon has played in just six games since, missing two entire seasons because of substance abuse issues.
Back in 2007, Belichick pried Randy Moss from the Raiders for a fourth-round pick, and Moss turned the Patriots into the best offense in NFL history in his first season, recording 98 catches for 1,493 yards and a career-high 23 touchdowns, while Brady won his first MVP and led New England to the first-ever 16-0 regular season.
In 2013, Gordon, a former second-round pick, had 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns, despite playing with quarterbacks Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden.
The Patriots lost receivers Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks in the offseason and will be out without suspended Julian Edelman until Week 5. In Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, Phillip Dorsett led all New England receivers with 44 yards.