The team best positioned to roll the dice is the 49ers, who own additional picks in the third, fourth and fifth rounds in 2013, and have taken chances on players with issues. However, after the signing of Randy Moss and the selection of A.J. Jenkins in the first round, the chances of earning a roster spot in San Francisco could be limited. The Vikings also have a luxury fourth-round pick in 2013 acquired from Detroit and could use more weapons for second-year QB Christian Ponder. The general consensus around the league, however, is that the Cowboys, Browns or Redskins are most likely to take a chance on Gordon early.

The way we hear it, the Cowboys do not intend to offer Dez Bryant a second contract and interviewed the Texas-grown Gordon closely. The Browns, who had targeted Gordon’s former teammate Kendall Wright with the 22nd pick in last April’s draft, worked him out and could stand to improve the supporting cast around rookie QB Brandon Weeden. The Redskins, who invested heavily in Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan in free agency, could benefit from a rapport already established with Robert Griffin III. Gordon has issues not unlike Brandon Marshall when then-Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan selected him in the fourth round in 2006 and are entering a critical season in the Shanahan era.

The Colts, Saints, Eagles, Panthers and Bears also spent considerable time interviewing him and the Bengals and Ravens, with risk-tolerable executives, could be in the running. The Dolphins and Chargers also run offenses that suit Gordon's talents well.

“You don’t win building your team with issue guys,” said one GM. “I think he is a lot more talented than Stephen Hill, but I would never take him in the second. How many supplemental guys ever amount to anything. By the time he figures it out — if he does — it’ll be the second team that benefits. Someone will probably be foolish and pop him in the third (round).”