It’s no secret the Pittsburgh Steelers and wide receiver Antonio Bown are likely to part ways in the near future, and the trade talks have been heating up. Brown is set to receive a $2.5 million roster bonus on March 17, a possible deadline for a deal.
While Brown will turn 31 this summer, it’s tough to argue he’s still not one of the best wide receivers in the league. NFL.com columnist Adam Schein took a stab at the teams most likely to trade for Brown and the Seahawks, interestingly enough, land at No. 3, behind only the Raiders and the 49ers.
Schein assigned his own probability percentages to each club and gave Seattle a 16 percent chance at a trade.
“This kind of acquisition would be nothing new for these ‘Hawks,” Schein writes. “Pete Carroll and John Schneider don’t ever mind characters with talent. Carroll has a knack for maximizing such individuals, getting them to play hard while still allowing them to be themselves. It’s kind of Carroll’s genius.”
Wide receiver is arguably a need for the Seahawks with Doug Baldwin on the mend from multiple surgeries this offseason. While Tyler Lockett had himself a banner year, a clear No. 3 wide receiver failed to truly emerge from the lineup. Seattle could certainly look to the NFL draft for more depth in the receiving corps, but Schein argues a veteran presence is exactly what Russell Wilson needs.
“Now, I love Doug Baldwin’s gritty game,” Schein continues. “And Tyler Lockett has emerged as one of the premier deep threats in the NFL. But you’re telling me Russell Wilson wouldn’t benefit – spectacularly – from the addition of a top-tier, no-question WR1?”
Schein is correct in that the Seahawks have never been a team afraid of outspoken players or divas in the locker room, although things might be changing as evidenced by last year’s “roster reset.” Seattle’s 16 percent chance to trade for Brown seems a bit generous, especially considering the price tag and headache attached.
