Antonio Brown reportedly has requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He certainly made it clear Tuesday he thinks it is time to move on. Pittsburgh isn’t going to simply give away a talent like the wide receiver. What teams could/would/should be interested in acquiring and All-World talent like Brown? All of these teams and moves would have to find a way to work around the salary cap.
15. San Francisco 49ers
Brown has already hinted he’d love to follow in the footsteps of the G.O.A.T of wideouts, Jerry Rice. The Niners have a franchise quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. They have a stud tight end in George Kittle. Adding Brown to those pieces would create an offense that would be nightmarish for opposing DCs.
14. New York Jets
The next few teams will boast the same theme. The New York Jets are banking on Sam Darnold as their QB of the present and future. When you choose someone No. 3 overall, you need to make sure he has a No. 1 target. That was not the case in 2018. Adding Brown would instantly give Darnold and Gang Green a top-shelf wideout. The Jets could dream about landing Brown and Le’Veon Bell to become the Pittsburgh Steelers of the Big Apple. Somehow, though, things never work out in such a wonderful manner.
13. Buffalo Bills
Different team, same theme. The Bills are counting on Josh Allen to do for them what the Jets want Darnold to do for them. Redundant, yeah. However, landing Brown from the Steel City would accomplish two points: Allen would have his main target and the Bills would avoid having to see Brown twice a season playing for an AFC East rival.
12. Arizona Cardinals
Kliff Kingsbury would like nothing better than to add Brown to the Cardinals’ WR attack. It would only be a year but Brown and Larry Fitzgerald would make quite the dynamic duo. Guess the biggest question is whether Josh Rosen, who Arizona used a first-round pick on in 2018, would be the guy throwing to them or if the Cardinals will move on from the former UCLA star in a blink and select a QB with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft?
11. Baltimore Ravens
Another young quarterback who could use a feature receiver the likes of Brown. Between the threat of Lamar Jackson running and Brown running patterns for the Ravens, John Harbaugh has to at least test the waters to see if the Steelers would consider a move within the division.
10. Cleveland Browns
Adding Brown to a wideout corps that boasts Jarvis Landry would set Cleveland up for a potent season through the air. Hard to believe the Steelers would move the wideout to a team in the division. But the Browns can be delusional — see signing Kareem Hunt — and Baker Mayfield would covet another talented pair or wide receiver hands.
9. Green Bay Packers
First-year coach Matt Lafleur would certainly like nothing better than to team a pair of elite wideouts. Aaron Rodgers would adore the opportunity to drop back and decide whether he wanted to throw to Brown or Davante Adams. Talk about an elite tandem.
8. Carolina Panthers
If Carolina were willing to pony up what it would take to land Brown, it would give Cam Newton a pairing similar to what Ben Roethlisberger had in Pittsburgh with Bell & Brown. Christian McCaffrey is a dual threat like Bell and Brown would give Newton a target the likes he is craving. Another magical possibility.
7. Oakland Raiders
Jon Gruden says players keep telling him how much they want to play for him and the Silver & Black. After trading Khalil Mack in about as unpopular a move as has happened in years, Gruden and the Raiders would do themselves a world of good if they somehow landed Brown. The Raiders need star power. Guess the downside is Brown will be 31 heading into 2019 season.
6. Detroit Lions
Matt Patricia dealt Golden Tate to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions are in the market for a stud WR. Brown fills that in so many ways and would give another Matt, Stafford, a target he hasn’t had the likes of since Calvin Johnson exited. After a sluggish, to say the least, first season, Patricia needs to do something to inject life into the Lions.
5. New England Patriots
Add some fun to the mix by throwing the Super Bowl champs into the sweepstakes. Okay, okay, they probably won’t be serious bidders but … Josh Gordon vanished and the Pats always seem to find a way to get what they want when they want it. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are always fun players.
4. Miami Dolphins
Brian Flores isn’t about to let all the other teams bid for Brown without the Fish taking a shot. The former Patriots assistant knows what his ex is capable of and he doesn’t want to see Antonio Brown twice a year on any of the other teams. Seems like the Dolphins have a bigger problem: finding someone who can throw to anyone.
3. New York Giants
Trading diva receiver migranes? Unlikely to happen because Odell Beckham Jr. is four years younger than Brown and those are prime seasons. Would be tempting if they were closer in age and make sense. That said, the Giants rule New York and New Jersey and aren’t about to get upset by anything the Jets try to do, should it mean landin Bell and Brown. New York is a Blue town no matter what happens.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bruce Arians has a project on his hands in turning Jameis Winston into the quarterback the Bucs wanted when they selected him No. 1 overall. DeSean Jackson wants out, so that leaves a hole. Mike Evans and Antonio Brown would be as much of a powerhouse 1-2 combo in the league. If Winston couldn’t get it done with them, he would be finished.
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a nice set of receivers starting with Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett. Adding Brown would ratchet up an already scary Russell Wilson. That would be some trio for the quarterback to try and target.
