Although Joe Flacco interrupted Antonio Brown‘s run as the NFL news cycle’s offseason
centerpiece, the Steelers‘ drama with their superstar wide receiver
remains the league’s top storyline. After Brown’s trade request, NFL executives believe there may be a
significant gap between what the Steelers want to part ways with Brown (and
take on a sizable dead-money chunk) and what other teams will pay.
One NFL GM believes Pittsburgh, regardless of Brown’s age
(31 in July) and off-field trouble, will still want a first-rounder, according to other media outlets. Two other high-ranking execs
said, through those same outlets, Brown could fetch a Day 2 draft choice, while
another predicted a fourth-round pick. Collecting a third- or fourth-round pick
for a four-time All-Pro, while taking on more than $20M in dead money, would be
an incredible pill for the Steelers to swallow.
One team that may want Brown may not be able to acquire him.
The Steelers will not trade Brown to the Patriots in addition to having a
predictable stance on an intra-AFC North trade.
Free agency is less than a month away, but teams are making
moves in preparation. Here is the latest on this front, along with other AFC
news:
- Already
pushing $100M in cap space, the Jets may move closer to triple digits
soon. They plan to release Isaiah Crowell once they agree to
terms with a veteran running back, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes.
Such a release would clear $3M off New York’s cap. The Jets have been the
team most linked to preparing for a Le’Veon Bell run, and Mehta
adds Tevin Coleman would be a nice
consolation prize. While Crowell signed a three-year, $12M deal, the Jets
would only be on the hook for the remaining $2M of his signing bonus.
- With
several free agents at wide receiver, the Patriots pass-catching
corps is likely to look considerably different next season. However,
if Josh Gordon is somehow reinstated,
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe expects the RFA to be back in New
England. But the Patriots obviously cannot count on that happening.
Additionally, the Patriots are not, in fact, paying for Gordon’s rehab. The NFLPA is
doing so, Volin adds.
- Under Ozzie
Newsome, the Ravens have been known to prioritize compensatory picks.
They may be ready to collect another prime end-of-round draft choice this
year. Za’Darius Smith‘s free agency buzz reminds
The Athletic’s Jeff Zreibec of what followed Pernell McPhee four years ago as he
readied for the market. McPhee left for a big Bears offer. A contract-year
wonder, Smith looks headed elsewhere, too, per Zreibec (subscription required), with the Ravens
prioritizing four-time Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley and possible
skill-position enhancements. Baltimore is about to lose $16M via its
Flacco trade, and it presently holds just $21M in cap space. So
adjustments will need to occur if these roster-bolstering hopes are to be
realized.
- Brandon Marshall is open to
restructuring his contract to stay with the Broncos, Nicki Jhabvala of The
Athletic notes (subscription required), but Denver may be
set to move on after a six-season partnership. The Broncos re-signed Todd Davis last year and like 2018
fourth-round pick Josey Jewell, who started several games
for an injured Marshall last season and would be a cheaper alternative.
Denver would save $5M by releasing Marshall while also being tagged with
$4M in cap charges. A Super Bowl 50 starter, Marshall played all 16 games
in 2017, but missed five in both 2016 and ’18.
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