When you ask for a trade in today’s sports landscape, you rarely get what you want. Antonio Brown got exactly what he wanted. Brown is out of Pittsburgh and is heading to the Oakland Raiders.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are giving the Steelers a third-round and fifth-round pick in this year’s draft. If that’s accurate, that means the Steelers would receive picks No. 66 and 142.
The Antonio Brown saga is finally nearing a close. Sources say the #Steelers are dealing AB to the #Raiders in exchange for a third round pick and a fifth round pick in this 2019 draft. Brown will also get a reworked contract that makes him the NFL’s highest paid WR.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2019
The reports came just moments after Brown posted a picture of himself in a Raiders jersey on Instagram. Unlike the reported trade with Buffalo, Brown appears to be more than happy to join the Raiders.
The Steelers are clear losers here. They’re eating $21.2 million in dead money for an elite receiver to not play for them, and all they’re getting in return is $1 million in cap savings, third- and fifth-round picks and one fewer teammate for Ben Roethlisberger to throw under the bus.
Even if Brown continues to produce at a high level — his game, which is built more on technique than raw athleticism, is conducive to a long career — it will be hard (maybe even impossible) for him to play up to the considerable salary he’ll make in Oakland or Las Vegas or wherever the Raiders will be playing over the remainder of his contract.
In the end, the Brown said no to Buffalo and took his talents to another premier brand in the NFL.
