Bill Belichick

Trade Analysis: Gordon, Smith & Taylor

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With the trade deadline fast approaching (Tuesday 30th October) let’s take a look at three trades which have already happened and the impact they could have on their current franchises and the void that they could leave behind.

Josh Gordon

Having been drafted by the Browns in the secound round of the 2012 supplemental draft, controversy always surrounded Gordon but the Browns stuck with him until this year when he was traded to the Patriots.

With a rookie quarterback under centre there were high expectations for Gordon. His first game in over two years resulted one catch for 17 yards and a touchdown – that was his quota in Cleveland.

The Browns had already traded for Jarvis Landry and drafted Antonio Callaway so the loss of Gordon wasn’t that a big a blow to the team who had rode the storm for several years. The Browns loss would be the Patriots gain, who had lost Julian Edelman to a four-game suspension, Brandin Cooks to the Rams and were dealing with a banged up Rob Gronkowski.

    

Just four games in and Gordon is starting to build a good rapport with Tom Brady (13-224-1). Losing the deep ball threat of Cooks is near impossible to replace but with a quick, big bodied receiver like Gordon, the Patriots have got a good one. It’s clear to see that the influence of Belichick and Brady has settled Gordon and he’s ready to show the league what he is capable of. The only way is up for Gordon and the Patriots.

Tyrod Taylor

This is a trade many have forgotten about except maybe the Bills.

Taylor had a solid few years in Buffalo and was looking like the guy to be the franchise quarterback the Bills had needed since the days of Jim Kelly.

However, trading up for Josh Allen signalled that he wasn’t the QB Buffalo wanted to lead their team. The Browns traded for Taylor (third round draft pick 2019), a move which had a lot of pundits and fans wondering why considering they had the first pick in a QB heavy draft.

And sure enough the Browns took Baker Mayfield with the first pick. Mayfield has now stepped in and started to show signs of why he was the number one pick but what about Taylor and the Bills?

    

The Bills are struggling badly under Allen and are maybe regretting trading Taylor. Considering the constant troubles that the Jaguars are having at QB and the mediocre season that lies ahead for them perhaps trading for Taylor wouldn’t be a bad idea.

The Bills and Taylor lost out big on this trade and the Browns, well, they just Browned, sacrificing a third  round pick for a player who has only played two full games this season.

Alex Smith

Sticking with QBs, this trade wasn’t really a big surprise after the Chiefs had drafted Patrick Mahomes last year. This trade is also possibly the only trade where everyone came out a winner.

The Redskins got Smith, the Vikings got Cousins and the Chiefs got to start Mahomes. Smith landing in Washington has been a breath of fresh of air – through six games he has a passer rating of 100.1 and thrown for over 1200 yards and seven touchdowns.

I don’t think I need to say too much about the incredible start Mahomes has had to this season but I will throw out some figures just to show how good this kid is. Through 7 games he has just over 2200 passing yards, 120 rushing yards, 22 passing touchdowns and 2 rushings TDs plus several NFL records. He’s a stud.

Cousins’ move to Minnesota came as a result of being franchised tagged (highest paid player at the time). It’s been money well spent so far for the Vikings with Cousins throwing for over 2000 yards and 14 TDs. As I said, its been win-win-win for everyone in this trade, the fact all three teams currently sit at the top of their respective divisions says it all about who they have under centre.