Thursday, July 12, 2012

Baylor's Josh Gordon impresses in workout before Thursday's NFL Supplemental Draft 2012

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon, whom the Browns are considering bidding on in Thursday's supplemental draft, had an impressive pro day Tuesday in Houston and should have plenty of suitors this week. image

According to NFL reporter Adam Caplan of Sirius XM radio, 21 of the 32 NFL teams, including the Browns, attended the workout and watched Gordon run a 4.52 in the 40, catch every pass thrown to him and record a 36-inch vertical leap.

Gordon pulled a left quad muscle on his second 40, Caplan said, but finished the workout.

One NFL executive told Rob Rang of cbssports.com that Gordon looked a little stiff running his routes but was otherwise impressive. "There's no question he has the physical skills to play at this level," the source told Rang.

"Scouts say you can see the physical tools he's been blessed with," Rang told The Plain Dealer. "He's a big, strong, fast, physical athlete."

But what are the Browns willing to part with for Gordon, who sat out all last season at Utah after being suspended indefinitely by Baylor following a marijuana arrest? “There are concerns about the arrest,” said Rang. “He’s also a very raw, developmental prospect, but an intriguing one.”

Caplan, who’s convinced Gordon will go in the third or fourth round, said the concern is he would need time to adjust to the West Coast offense. But the Browns have a recent history with drafting a talented receiver forced to sit out a year because of a behavioral issue. Greg Little was the team’s leading receiver in his rookie season after being picked in the second round. He did, however, run a similar offense at North Carolina.

The draft is almost like a silent auction, with teams submitting bids based on the pick they’re willing to sacrifice in the 2013 draft. The order within rounds is determined by how teams fared last season.

Nfldraftscout.com describes Gordon as "a long-striding runner with the build-up speed and fluidity to make plays after the catch.''

But Gordon also comes with baggage. He was suspended indefinitely by Baylor coach Art Briles prior to the 2011 season following a marijuana arrest, and transferred to Utah, where he sat out the season. Rather than play for the Utes this season, he declared for the supplemental draft for financial reasons, according to reports.

But he showed enough in his one full season in 2010 to impress pro scouts and coaches. That season, he caught 42 passes for 714 yards and seven TDs. The Browns also have some inside insight into Gordon from Baylor alum Phil Taylor and from their close associate Brian Norwood, who is Baylor's assistant head coach and father of Browns receiver Jordan Norwood.

Seven other players have declared for Thursday's supplemental draft, but none with the potential star power of Gordon. The last time the Browns selected a player in the special draft was Bernie Kosar in 1985.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/07/baylors_josh_gordon_impresses.html

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