Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL free agency: 5 wide receivers the 49ers can consider for 2018

By Peter Panacy

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks beats cornerback Rashard Robinson #33 of the San Francisco 49ers to score a 9 yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks beats cornerback Rashard Robinson #33 of the San Francisco 49ers to score a 9 yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 17: Josh Gordon #12 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 17: Josh Gordon #12 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns

Would you do it?

True, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon comes with all kinds of red flags. And with the off-field situations with 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster casting a shadow, the 49ers may not want to open two Pandora’s boxes.

Like Foster, though, Gordon offers among the best on-field abilities at the position. It’s impossible to overlook the NFL-leading 1,646 receiving yards he had with the Browns back in 2013. Additionally, he has experience working within Kyle Shanahan’s offense when the latter was offensive coordinator in Cleveland the following year.

Simply put, Gordon has a ton of talent. But his character concerns are enough to cast some doubt.

Next: 49ers 7-round mock NFL Draft for 2018, version 2.0

Should San Francisco consider the risk, the team would want to make sure Gordon has cleaned up his act and has his life back on track in a positive direction. If the Niners feel he has, targeting Gordon would be a risky but potentially worthwhile reward.