Ideally, here’s how new receiver Josh Gordon fits into the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense
About an hour before kickoff Sunday in Philadelphia, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ripped through a series of short throws to his wide receivers, from quick slants to Tyreek Hill to button hooks to Demarcus Robinson.
At the back of the line: Josh Gordon.
Since his acquisition last week, the Chiefs have accelerated Gordon’s education of the offense and his chemistry with its quarterback, even if that meant inviting a practice-squad player on a road trip.
“He feels like he’s in pretty good shape, and he wants to get going,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
The Chiefs added Gordon to their active roster this week, making available a 30-year-old receiver with baggage, but with talent, too. His off-the-field problems have been well-documented, including by this publication.
He’s been suspended six times, most recently keeping him out of the league since the 2019 season. Reid said conversations with those who have played with or coached Gordon preceded his signing in Kansas City. That’s all relevant.
Just not the purpose of this story. This is framed in an ideal world. Where does Gordon fit in to this Chiefs roster? Better yet, where do the Chiefs need him to fit in?
“The talent, you can just see how fast he is, how big he is, the way he’s able to get in and out of cuts,” Mahomes said. “I’ve been able to throw to him a little bit here off to the side, and I think we’ll try to do whatever we can to bring him up to speed as quickly as possible and utilize his skill-set.”
Those are the two critical items that linger, one of them representing a short-term hurdle and the other a possible longer-term solution.
First comes bringing him up to speed. Gordon is likely to suit up Sunday when the Chiefs play host to the Bills, but don’t expect a full workload.
Even as Reid praises Gordon’s ability to grasp the playbook – which has some crossover language with his old offense in Cleveland — it’s going to take some time. The Chiefs have layered Gordon’s education in spurts. He’s more likely to be on the field for specific packages. The snap count could grow as the season ages.
Which leads to the potential of the long-term solution — his skill-set. In the offseason, the Chiefs passed over replacing Sammy Watkins in favor of other needs, but their pursuit of JuJu Smith-Schuster proved they at least saw some value in replacing him.
Enter Josh Gordon. Again, ideally.
In Kansas City, Watkins played the X receiver. He became less the deep threat he’d been known for earlier in his career and more of a move-the-sticks receiver. By no coincidence, the three worst yards-per-reception seasons of Watkins’ career came in his three seasons with the Chiefs.
But don’t underestimate the importance of that role. As Tyreek Hill occupied the attention of safeties and tight end Travis Kelce the middle of the field, Watkins did much of his damage by necessity. When healthy, he worked to his openings quickly, offering Mahomes an outlet early.
Which is why elevating everyone — Mecole Hardman, namely — up a peg on the depth chart was never as simple as it sounded. Hardman has a much different tool box than the role in which Watkins operated.
Gordon, on the other hand, has the traits to fill that vacancy. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he is not only now the most sizable threat for Mahomes, he can beat one-on-one coverage. Or at least he could in his prime. Again, he’s been out of the league for more than a year. He’s 30 years old, though with perhaps less wear on his tires.
Those tools would project to cover up the Chiefs’ most glaring needs. A red-zone threat. A receiver who can catch the ball in tight windows on third downs and keep driving rolling.
To be sure, even with Gordon’s addition, the attention won’t leave Hill and Kelce, particularly not on third downs. Among their myriad roles within the Chiefs offense, prolonging drives ranks among the most valuable.
In 2021, Hill leads the NFL with 21 receptions for first downs. Kelce is third (and leads tight ends) with 19. Together, they account for 59% of the Chiefs’ passing first downs. A year ago, that number was 53%, when Watkins ranked third on the team with 27 first downs despite missing six games.
Gordon has been a big-play threat in the past. So was Watkins before his arrival. The Chiefs don’t necessarily need that — though, let’s be honest, they won’t complain if he provides that, too. Where they need him is the less sexy role, the one with fewer eye-popping numbers.
That role could allow the stars — Hill and Kelce — more space with which to operate. The Chiefs remain lacking in their production behind those two. Last week, Hardman, Robinson, Byron Pringle and Marcus Kemp combined for 4 catches for 39 yards. Those aren’t exactly attention-seeking numbers.
Gordon, however, can seek some attention.
In an ideal world, of course.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 5:00 AM.