[sherck]

Antonio Brown’s cap hits to a new team: (assuming that he would be traded prior to 16 March 2019 so that the new team would have to pay his due $2.500m Roster Bonus. If traded after 16 March 2019 and PIT pays the bonus, then his 2019 cap hit to a new team would only be $12.625m)

2019 = $15.125m
2020 = $11.300m
2021 = $12.500m
2022 = UFA

2018 / 15 games / 168 targets / 104 catches / 61.9% / 1,297 yards / 15 TD / 0 Fumbles
2017 / 14 games / 163 targets / 101 catches / 62.0% / 1,533 yards / 09 TD / 4 Fumbles
2016 / 15 games / 154 targets / 106 catches / 68.8% / 1,284 yards / 12 TD / 0 Fumbles
2015 / 16 games / 193 targets / 136 catches / 70.5% / 1,834 yards / 10 TD / 3 Fumbles
2014 / 16 games / 181 targets / 129 catches / 71.3% / 1,698 yards / 13 TD / 2 Fumbles

Any way you slice it, Brown, from purely a cap hit / talent / production standpoint would be a fantastic value to trade for. There is no wide receiver we could draft with a 2nd / 3rd / 4th round pick that would deliver the same level of immediate impact to our offense over the next three seasons. Long term? Different story since Brown is already 30 and will be 31 for the 2019 season; he is a 3 to 4 year rental rather than a long-term piece.

Oh, but what a rental? T.Y. on one side, Brown on the other with Doyle and Ebron as the tight ends? If Cain develops? If Inman is signed for another season? If Fountain develops? With our O-Line?

It all comes down to attitude. I was pleased to hear that after Rooney said that “all options are on the table” that Brown tweeted a picture of him signing his 2017 contract extension saying “Good Business, #Boomin.” This might indicate that his issues are with HC Tomlin and players rather than a bad attitude towards the team as a whole.

I have a co-worker who is as much of a Steelers fan and I am a Colts fan. Grew up in PIT, dad has season tickets, lives and breaths Black & Gold. His characterization is that Brown has been that he has been “feisty” his whole career with tweets and comments to the press but has never before this season been “out of line.” He thinks that the real issue is with Big Ben (my friend wants him to retire and rebuild) and not Brown or Bell.

The youth T.Y. and Brown connection is also interesting. Certainly that insight to the character of his youth would be a pretty important data point to have.

Regardless, I would give up a 3rd for sure and perhaps even our lowest 2nd round pick for Brown IF Ballard is convinced that he can come on this team, keep his ego in check and be a good teammate. Wide Receiver is, IMO, our weakest position group going into 2019 outside of T.Y. and adding Brown immediately solves that problem. There are going to be few other solutions available in free agency this off-season and drafting a high-round WR rookie is almost always going to be a crap shoot for the first couple of seasons.

We have the cap space for years to come, he fills a need and the cost would be relatively cheap in terms of draft choices for a KNOWN sure-fire player of his caliber. I would be onboard if Ballard makes the trade.

Walk Worthy,