NFL 2019 Predictions: Where Will Antonio Brown Be Traded, Le'Veon Bell Sign After Leaving Steelers?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are all but certain to lose two of the NFL’s best playmakers in the 2019 NFL offseason. Le’Veon Bell will become a free agent after sitting out all of last season, and the team appears committed to trading Antonio Brown.

Despite the controversy that surrounds them, there will be plenty of suitors for both players. Bell might have been the league’s best running back before he held out in 2018. No receiver has been more productive than Brown over the last six years.

Where will the two stars end up?

Le’Veon Bell

Bell will probably join whichever team pays him the most money. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora has reported that the 27-year-old wants $50 million in the first two years of his new contract, though that might be hard to come by since running backs are not valued like they once were. Teams that are well below the salary cap and don’t possess an elite running back are the best fits.

The Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets are in that discussion as the two teams with the most cap space. The Oakland Raiders could be an option with more than $70 million to spend. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considered to be among the favorites, though they would have to create some room on the payroll.

The Jets are the best bet. They’ve got the available funds and are looking to surround Sam Darnold with playmakers that will help his development. A top running back, who has caught 75 or more passes in three of his last four seasons, would be an ideal player to put alongside a young quarterback that’s ready to take the next step.

Antonio Brown

Unlike Bell, Brown doesn’t control his own fate. The Steelers can trade the veteran wherever they want, and they’ve made it clear they aren’t simply going to give away the future Hall of Famer. Pittsburgh might even make sure that Brown ends up with an NFC team so they don’t have to deal with him in their own conference.

Because of Brown’s age, salary and off-field issues, the field of teams willing to give up a high draft pick for him might be limited to those that believe the wide receiver will be a key piece in helping them be very competitive next year. That’s why NFC teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers have been listed among the betting favorites to land Brown, even though they might not seem like very likely destinations.

The San Francisco 49ers make the most sense. Not only has Brown himself hinted that he’d like to be in the Bay Area, but San Francisco is looking to start winning in 2019. San Francisco became a popular pick to make a run last season before Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL. The 49ers made their quarterback the NFL’s highest-paid player, and they still have plenty of room under the cap. San Francisco was considered to be a trade possibility for Bell last season, and they seem willing to make a big move that might get them into the playoffs for the first time in six years.