The Green Bay Packers can’t be considered one of the front runners to land All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans have emerged as the three teams showing “the most interest” in trading for Brown.
Many have pointed to the Packers as a logical landing spot for Brown, given the presence of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the offense’s need for another playmaker and the trade capital and cap space available to GM Brian Gutekunst.
If Schefter’s reporting is accurate, the Packers are either uncomfortable with trading certain assets for Brown, worried about adding a volatile talent into the locker room or uninterested in a trade scenario altogether.
Top target Davante Adams is a two-time Pro Bowler and coming off a career-best season in 2019, and both Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur recently voiced excitement over the team’s three draft picks at receiver last season.
Brown, who turns 31 in July, has six straight seasons with 100 or more receptions and 74 career touchdown catches. He hauled in an NFL-high 15 scores last season.
Brown has base salaries of $12.625 million in 2019, $11.3 million in 2020 and $12.5 million in 2021. He has a $2.7 million roster bonus due March 17.
Although the Packers are not among the most interested teams in trading for Brown, neither are the team’s biggest rivals. Missing out on Brown won’t hurt the same way as missing out on Khalil Mack, who terrorized the Packers as a member of the Chicago Bears in 2018.
