Get ready for a month of speculation.
All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown has officially requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and although the Steelers don’t have to honor the request, most times, when a star wants a trade, a deal is eventually facilitated.
Oddsmakers are already pegging the Green Bay Packers as one of the potential favorites to land Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowler and one of the few elite receivers in the game.
It’s a tantalizing scenario: Imagine Brown lining up opposite fellow Pro Bowler Davante Adams and catching passes from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, all while helping to open up running lanes for budding star running back Aaron Jones. The Packers offense could jump from wildly inconsistent and maddeningly disappointing in 2018 to borderline unstoppable with Brown, Rodgers and the rest of the supporting cast in 2019.
But important questions must be answered before exploring a franchise-altering trade. Does Brown want to play in Green Bay? Could he co-exist peacefully with Aaron Rodgers? Does player leadership want Brown in the locker room? Would he fit within the culture being established by first-year coach Matt LaFleur?
Also, what would the Packers be willing to give up to land Brown? It’s possible the Steelers are expecting to get at least a first-round pick in the deal. The Packers have two, but every GM views first-rounders as gold.
Brown can’t be officially traded until the start of the new league year in March, giving the 31 NFL teams time to weigh their options and send their offers Pittsburgh’s way. Should the Packers be one of the teams to seriously explore the trade?
Vote in our poll below:
