The Green Bay Packers are fading out of the picture in trade talks involving Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown.
Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the two most prominent national NFL reporters, both recently reported on the interest in Brown coming out of the combine, and neither reporter listed the Packers among the teams most interested in a trade for the Steelers’ All-Pro pass-catcher.
Schefter listed the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins as the three teams showing the “most interest” in Brown, while Rapoport mentioned the Raiders, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals as the three teams “most intrigued.”
Although Peter King of NBC Sports reported there could be “at least one more serious team,” it doesn’t appear as if the Packers will be the team that eventually lands Brown.
Many have spotlighted the Packers as a perfect potential landing spot for Brown, pointing to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the team’s two first-round picks as top reasons why the Steelers and Packers could make sense as trading partners. The move would give Rodgers another superstar to work with on offense, and the Steelers would get the opportunity to send Brown out of the AFC.
But a deal takes two to tango, and it doesn’t look like the Packers are ready to dance with Brown and the Steelers.
More than likely, the Packers are focusing on free agency and the crop of available pass-rushers – a position that GM Brian Gutekunst could throw millions of dollars at to fix this offseason. Several outlets reported the Packers are preparing to be aggressive in their pursuit of an edge rusher in free agency.
Trading for Brown could complicate that search financially.
King believes the Steelers will actually get a trade done this week, and he’s growing increasingly sure that dealing Brown will net Pittsburgh an additional first-round pick.
It just won’t be the 30th pick.
Unless the Packers are preparing a surprise, under-the-radar move, expect Brown to be playing elsewhere in 2019.
