The Pittsburgh Steelers may be looking to trade Antonio Brown following the wide receiver’s trade demand, but they will have some limitations.
According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the Steelers will not trade Brown to the New England Patriots, nor will they trade him to other teams within the AFC North. La Canfora shared his information in response to a tweet from Rotoworld’s Evan Silva, who suggested the Patriots were a perfect fit for Brown.
They want him but cant have him. Steelers wont deal him to NE, BAL, CLE or CIN. Kinda like how Belichick wouldnt deal Jimmy G to CLE
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) February 13, 2019
The report makes sense. New England is a mainstay atop the AFC and has reached at least the conference championship game in every season since 2011. Why would Pittsburgh want to strengthen one of their major rivals? Additionally, they wouldn’t want to trade him to a team they have to face twice a year so he can come back to burn them.
Trading Brown would cause a hit of $21 million in dead cap space for Pittsburgh, potentially weaken their offense, and strengthen another team around the league. They better be sure they got a strong return for him given all they’re facing.
There should be a large market of suitors despite Brown’s off-field troubles.
