The loss of Josh Gordon hurts the Seahawks more than you’d think

The Seahawks gambled on one of the NFL’s most talented and troubled players. The payout ended for the team, but the end is even tougher for Josh Gordon.

The Seahawks offense has been pretty exceptional this year. Yet the Hawks knew their offense needed an extra spark. When the Patriots released wide receiver Josh Gordon, the Seattle brain trust of Pete Carroll and John Schneider wasted no time in signing the speed merchant. It was a low-risk, high-reward deal for Seattle. Unfortunately, that low risk came up against Gordon as he’s been suspended by the NFL again, likely for the final time.

Tyler Lockett was off to a great start, with two 100+ yard games and two personal records for most receptions in a game. DK Metcalf proved that he was just about up to the hype, as he’d made seven starts in the first eight games. He’d hauled in four touchdown passes to match Lockett. But the Seahawks still lacked a consistent third receiving threat. Tight end Will Dissly was out for the season after game six, and he left some very large cleats to fill. Jacob Hollister just had two games under his belt and showed promise. He had yet to prove how dynamic he would be for the Hawks aerial attack.

Another deep threat could be a big help. And there was Josh Gordon, a man who’d averaged over 17 yards per catch, a chain-moving machine. When the Seahawks picked him up, they would only owe him $834,000, none of it guaranteed. They probably spend that on Gatorade every season. Unfortunately for him, Gordon won’t see the final two weeks of that deal as the league suspended him without pay. So Seattle wound up paying Gordon $595,589 for his services.

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Let’s set the human aspect of this story aside for a moment. For a great reflection on that, I highly recommend Lee Vowell’s article. For what it’s worth, I agree completely with Lee. The Hawks lost a lot, but Gordon is losing much, much more. But I’d like to focus on exactly what Seattle lost when Gordon couldn’t hold himself back any longer.

Seattle signed him on November first, but with a game on the third, it was too soon, even for a seasoned vet like Gordon. He made his Seahawks debut against the 49ers. What a game to restart your career with your new team, right? Gordon didn’t make any spectacular plays, but he did make two critical catches on third down. He converted both, keeping Hawks drives alive in the fourth quarter and overtime. And that’s what he did virtually every game.

Josh Gordon may have only caught seven passes, but six of those went for first downs. He kept moving those chains almost every time he touched the ball. He topped them all with his spectacular fingertip catch of a 58-yard Russell Wilson bomb. Which, to be honest, was one of the few throws Wilson made against the Panthers that was a bit off-target. Had he hit a perfect strike, Gordon would have taken it all the way for 83 yards and his first Seahawks score.

So, we have six first downs on seven catches. It’s a small sample, but that’s still a terrific rate. Lockett averages a first down on 71 percent of his catches, while Metcalf moves the chains on 72 percent of his. Gordon picked up first downs on 86 percent of his receptions. Then again, David Moore has turned every single catch into either a touchdown (two) or a first down (12). If only he’d catch the ball more than half the time.

For what Seattle invested in him, Gordon provided a huge return. I’m not just talking about on the field, either. Pete Carroll had this to say about him on SportsRadioKJR:

"“We saw Josh at a really high level the whole time he was here. The work ethic he brought was one [thing], but his getting along with people, being good to work with and talk to and all that, to deal with on a regular basis, he was great. We were not aware that there was a concern other than his history… I know just from talking with him the time he was with us he does understand where the help comes from and the support that’s out there and he does utilize the resources that the league offers. Just wish him the best and hope he can do well.”"

The Seahawks certainly have candidates to replace his production. Of course Moore, Jaron Brown and Malik Turner were already on the squad before his arrival. The Seahawks still went after the known deep threat, even knowing there was a chance it would all play out as it has. Maybe this is the time to shine for rookie John Ursua. Regardless, this is a tough loss for the Hawks and an even tougher one for Josh Gordon. We sincerely hope he can find his way to recovery, and we wish him the best.