According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets have expressed preliminary interest in acquiring Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
At the combine last week, general manager Mike Maccagnan said the Jets would explore an assortment of options when it came to adding talent to the roster. New York has been viewed as a potential landing spot for Brown ever since he met with Steelers brass in February and requested a trade, but this is the first time the Jets have been directly linked to trade talks with Pittsburgh.
With the focus on adding weapons around Sam Darnold, Brown is an intriguing trade target. The four-time All-Pro wideout is a top-five player at his position and has a track record of success with 837 career receptions, 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns. However, Brown comes with plenty of baggage, and there are concerns that his presence in the locker room would not benefit Darnold as he continues to progress.
Brown would instantly improve New York’s offense and give Darnold a much-needed No. 1 receiver. The Jets are doing their due diligence in terms of seeing what it will take to land Brown, but a major question is whether New York is willing to part ways with the draft capital that it will require to bring him to the Big Apple.
