Consensus: Josh Gordy Is A Decent Corner, But Trade Might Not Have Been Necessary

When I'm not lurking through article comments, laughing my butt off at memes created to mock me (like this one... bravo to commenter Addai Another Aday), I'm reaching out to people I know and trust and asking their opinions on players like Josh Gordy, the corner the Colts traded for last night.

@stampedeblue Gordy was in camp with the Pack last year. He's got some talent. Should help Indy right away.

— Aaron Nagler (@Aaron_Nagler) August 22, 2012

RT @jthom1: #Rams have traded CB Josh Gordy to #Colts for undisclosed draft pick<Nice scoop. Gordy's having a nice preseason

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) August 22, 2012

From Turf Show Times' Ryan Van Bibber:

Gordy was brought over from the Green Bay Packers' practice squad last season, and pressed into duty after a rash of injuries decimated the Rams' cornerback depth. He was a solid fill-in who did more than most ever expected considering the circumstances.

Gordy started his first game with the Rams in Week 8 where he intercepted Drew Brees on the way to an upset win over the Saints. He was a regular starter by Week 10. According to PFF, opponents completed 65.7 percent of their passes at Gordy, and he allowed three touchdowns. He also had three interceptions.

Out of 109 corners graded by PFF, Gordy ranked 96th with an overall rating of -8.9 and a -5.7 rating in coverage. He was the worst ranked corner in the league against the run, according to PFF's stats.

The Central Michigan product was having a solid camp with the Rams, even getting a few reps with the starters in the team's nickel package, but was no more than a fifth cornerback on a team that spent a second- and a third-round pick on corners in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Newly imprisoned acquired Stampede Blue writer Nick Ragsdale noted this:

Josh Gordy picked off Andy Dalton, Charlie Batch and Drew Brees last year.

— Colts Insiders (@ColtsInsiders) August 22, 2012

No Colts defensive back had more than two picks last year. The last time a Colts DB had more than three picks in one season: Antoine Bethea in 2009. He had four.

Overall, the consensus from most I chatted with was that Gordy is a good corner. Nothing flashy, but good. However, many wondered why the Colts and Ryan Grigson opted to trade for Gordy. It seemed as if he was going to get cut, and the Colts have the first claim in the waiver wire pecking order. Making it more confusing is that the pick Indy sent St. Louis was an unconditional one in 2014. This means that, no matter what happens to Gordy, that pick is locked in.

I had a few league people express puzzlement to me over that (and, by "league people" I mean people who work for teams in the National Football League).

Still, it's worth noting that the Rams have been fielding offers for some of their corners since June. They drafted Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson in the second round and third round (respectively) this year because they wanted them to start immediately. They also have Bradley Fletcher, who is a holdover starter from last year.

For me, the story here isn't whether Gordy is good or not. It's that the front office still is not satisfied with the play of the corners outside Jerraud Powers. If guys like Justin King (also a former Rams corner), Cassius Vaughn, or D.J. Johnson were impressing the coaches, this trade does not happen.

As Mike Chappell noted last night:

I won't be surprised if #colts opening-day starter opposite RCB Jerraud Powers isn't on the roster yet.

— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) August 22, 2012

Agreed.