What is more impressive: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon leading the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards this season, or doing so with Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden throwing him the ball?
Wherever you weigh in on that debate, it is clear the Browns need to upgrade at the position and will almost certainly do so in the 2014 NFL Draft, either with the No. 4 or 26 overall pick in the first round or by packaging those two selections to move up. Gordon would welcome any new addition, but singled out one intriguing name in an interview with "Super Bowl Live."
"I think I would be all right with anybody we get. We got some great guys right now that we are going to have returning, but the young guys, Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, those guys are great actually. I'm a fan of Derek Carr down at Fresno State. There is a bunch of talent out there, so anybody really," Gordon said.
Gordon would also welcome Manziel, who has been frequently linked to the Browns. However, Gordon told Around the League that Manziel might not necessarily be the pick.
"For the media market and a city like Cleveland, which is real small, I think it would be huge to have him. Great for the city, and the environment, but I'm not really sure who they want. There's a lot of great talent out there. There's a couple guys on that list," Gordon said.
The first set of mock drafts from NFL Media analysts all have the Browns taking a quarterback. Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks each tab Manziel at No. 4, while Matt "Money" Smith gives the nod to Teddy Bridgewater there. Charles Davis sees the Browns adding Carr at No. 26.
Any of those signal-callers would certainly love to have Gordon to throw the ball to. An explosive big-play threat, Gordon averaged 18.9 yards per catch, best in the league of any player with at least 25 receptions. Gordon also posted consecutive games with more than 200 receiving yards for the first time in NFL history, while his season totals came despite being suspended for two games.
"I have to be a wide receiver and make my plays and try to help us win regardless of who the quarterback is," Gordon said.
Pairing Gordon with a talent like Carr could be exactly what the Browns need to turn production into wins.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
