New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon has signed his restricted free agent tender, per ESPN’s Field Yates. Gordon’s availability to play in 2019 is in question due to repeated violations of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, but if he gets clearance to play it will be in New England.
The Patriots acquired Gordon in the middle of last season and Gordon helped the team secure a first round bye en route to winning another Super Bowl. Gordon caught 40 passes for 720 yards and received a Super Bowl ring despite facing an indefinite ban for violating the league’s drug policy in December.
Hopefully Gordon can receive the help he needs off the field because that should always be the priority. If he’s able to return to the field with the Patriots, that should just be considered a bonus.
New England shouldn’t change their approach to the wide receiver position in the draft with this news, but the idea of a receiving corps with a healthy Julian Edelman, Demaryius Thomas, and Josh Gordon is certainly tantalizing- and who knows, maybe that could get Rob Gronkowski to come out of retirement for one last ride.