7 Best Cleveland Browns of the 21st Century

5. Josh Gordon

Let’s get this one out of the way. Josh Gordon could have been, perhaps, the greatest receiving talent of all time. At the very least, he could have been the best receiver of the 21st century, and be mentioned in the same breath as Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, and Odell Beckham Jr. The man known as Flash had all the physical talent in the world, and when he was clean, he showcased it with the Browns. But, it was never meant to be, long-term.

The year that many Browns fans will remember Gordon for is 2013, the season in which he put up over 1,600 receiving yards. Not only does Gordon’s yardage jump off the page, but his scoring does as well. Nine touchdowns, with a long of 95 yards, over the course of one season, at 22 years old. Not to mention, this was all with a second-year Brandon Weeden throwing to him.

Gordon would average 117 receiving yards per game that year, cementing himself as one of the NFL’s best young wide receivers. But, he would never reach the same heights that he saw in 2013 ever again, as multiple drug policy suspensions would wreck Gordon’s career in Cleveland.

For as sad as it is, Josh Gordon was never going to succeed long-term with the Browns. It was clearly not meant to be, and general manager John Dorsey got the best offer he could for the troubled talent. Although he was looking to shape up with the New England Patriots, it seems that Gordon has wasted yet another opportunity to be a star in the NFL. Nevertheless, he is still one of the most talented Browns since 1999.