Josh Gordon's actual value to an NFL team is questionable. He has played in so few games due to suspensions that the Cleveland Browns decided he was no longer worth the trouble. But Gordon's physical talent cannot be remotely denied. Gaining 1,646 yards through the air in 14 games is only possible those who are truly special from an athletic standpoint, and Gordon fits the bill. That was known in Cleveland, but it is now being truly appreciated by his New England Patriots teammates. Several of the cornerbacks who have to cover Gordon in practice spoke to Doug Kyed of NESN in awe of the player that now lines up for the offense.

“Some things you just can’t teach, like his athleticism," Stephon Gilmore, a former Pro Bowl corner who is no slouch athletically himself, explained. "You can be right there in position, and he’ll make a play.” Eric Rowe gushed about his leaping ability, saying “He’s one of the few receivers who actually goes up and actually gets the ball. He’s got big hands, so if it’s in his radius, he’s probably coming down with it.”

The list goes on and on. There are no particularly long-tenured cornerbacks on this roster, but the ones who predated Gordon on this team certainly wouldn't be used to practicing against someone like him. The Patriots usually build their roster around smaller, quicker receivers who gain their yardage after the catch. This is the Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola archetype. But the Patriots have made exceptions for special talents like Gordon in the past. Sometimes, they work beautifully, as was the case when Randy Moss rewrote the NFL record book in 2007. In other cases, they don't, as when Chad Johnson was largely only a role player for the 2011 Patriots.

It's too early to determine where Gordon will fall on that spectrum, but his role has increased every week he has been with the team. He sat out his first game as a Patriot, a Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions. He played sparingly a week later against the Miami Dolphins, and then scored his first long touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. He had five catches against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, his most as a Patriot. He is trending in the right direction even if the jury is still out on how far he can go with this team.

But what can't be denied is the impact he is having on his own defense. The consensus from the cornerbacks spoken to was that covering Gordon helped prepare them for what they'll face on Sundays. After all, Gordon has more talent than just about anyone they could cover in a real game. If they can handle him, they can handle anyone.