Only These Four Teams Should Trade for Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL but is also one of the biggest distractions with his performance this season. Pittsburgh has some major salary cap hurdles to want to clear in order to move Brown, and it remains to be seen if they will do that. If they are, a few teams make sense.

History has not been kind to teams that employ these diva receivers, that is why there are only four teams that should look to trade for him.

San Francisco 49ers

If Jimmy Garoppolo comes back healthy with superstar in the making tight end George Kittle, Brown’s addition would quickly turn the 49ers into one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL. San Franciso is in dire need of a top-level wide receiver. This past season their leader in yards at the position was Kendrick Bourne with just 487. On paper, Kyle Shanahan would utilize Brown as well as anyone. What the 49ers would offer for Brown is where things get complicated. Would San Francisco be willing to part with, and would the Steelers accept an early second round pick in the next draft?

Hmm …

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are going to be a sexy Super Bowl pick next season, and adding a dynamic wide receiver like Brown would make them one of the favorites. He and Andrew Luck would be the best quarterback-receiver talent combination in the entire NFL. If this move is made, the Colts may just end up bragging they the best quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line in the league. In addition, due to their bond, Ty Hilton may be the one receiver Brown wouldn’t mind sharing receptions with (ask JuJu). Also, the Colts have the cap space to make this work.

New York Jets

Sam Darnold is the Jets future and right now does not have the weapons to succeed. Giving him one of the best receivers of the past decade would be a good start. The very average Robby Anderson was the Jets top weapon last year in an offense that glaringly was absent of playmakers. There has to be some level of concern about the fit here, however. Brown is often accused of being a “me guy” which does not bode well for in the New York media in the same stadium of another needy receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. But if the Jets can make it work, a playoff berth in the next two years may be on the horizon.

The Jets, too, have the cap space to make this work, though they already gave up picks to move up to get Darnold.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers trading for Brown is very unlikely. That has never been their style, but this time they should look to break it. The Packers have wasted the talent of Aaron Rodgers for years, and we are beginning to see he can no longer win the all of sudden competitive NFC North by himself. Green Bay has an obsolete roster that lacks major speed. Brown would fix this and he and Rodgers would be the best duo since Brady and Moss. After foolishly missing out on trading for Khalil Mack, the Packers should finally make a splash. For what it is worth timing-wise, they currently have two 2019 first-round picks, including the Saints’ pick which is likely at the end of the round.

New coach, new start.