How Much Is Antonio Brown Worth In A Trade?
Photo Credit: NY Post
Antonio Brown has undoubtedly been a top 3 wide receiver in the NFL over the past 5 seasons, if not the best. He’s coming off a career high 15 TDs and has had over 1200 yds receiving in each of the last 6 seasons. You’d think that a top receiver in the NFL with these types of numbers would require a massive haul for another team to land him in a trade, but will Antonio Brown? After Antonio Brown tweeted his goodbyes to Pittsburgh nation yesterday, it’s all but a forgone conclusion that he’s getting dealt. So it pretty much comes down to which teams will be in for Brown and how much are they willing to give up for him?
In my honest opinion I think the return is going to be lower than many expect. The Patriots were able to get a first rd pick in exchange for Brandin Cooks and a 4th rd pick. But I’m not so sure the Steelers even get that. My guess would be 2 mid rd picks and here’s why. To start Antonio Brown is 30 yrs old and will be 31 by the time next season starts. While he could easily have 2-3 more years in his prime, it’s only going to be downhill from here, especially when you consider what type of receiver he is. Brown is a short receiver, only 5-10, who’s speed and agility makes him so elusive. He’s not a 6-4 receiver who’s going to go up and catch a jump ball. So from that aspect, again Brown’s production will likely only decrease from here as speed tends slow with age.
The second reason that will make Brown tough to trade is his contract. So Brown signed a 4 yr deal that has a 5th yr option in 2017. Next year, Brown will be in the third year of that contract which has a cap hit of $22 million. $22 million is a crazy amount of money to be paying a player that’s not a QB. The following year’s cap hit is $18 million followed by the 5th year option with a hit of $19 million. A team that trades for Brown could always attempt to restructure his contract but still that’s a lot of money for a receiver over the age of 30.
And finally the last reason that I don’t think a team will shell out a lot for Brown, as well as I wouldn’t want my team doing that either, is due to him simply being a distraction. A player that sits out a week 17 must win game, I wouldn’t want anywhere near my team. A player that cares more about his stats than the team’s success, I wouldn’t won’t anywhere near my team. Antonio Brown was actually upset that the team voted Juju Smith-Schuster the team MVP over him. The man is 5 time All Pro receiver 30 and he cares about a team mvp award. It reminds me of the story I saw a few weeks ago when Brandon Spikes talked about how he was upset in 2012 about not getting into the pro bowl and that he was actually crying in the locker room over what he felt was a pro bowl snub. Then Tom Brady walked by Brandon and asked him, “You think I play this shit to go to Pro Bowls? Get it together.” That right there folks is your difference between a player with a winning mentality and one without, and guess which category Antonio Brown falls into?