NFL Rumors: Antonio Brown To The Panthers? Where The Steelers Receiver Could Play In 2019

Antonio Brown has, in all likelihood, played his last down for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The prolific wide receiver has essentially forced a trade out of the Steel City over the course of the last two months.

The only questions left are who will trade for him, and how much will they give up?

On Friday, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said three teams had reached out regarding Brown, but did not specify which teams they were. On the same day, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the Steelers would prefer to send Brown to a team in the NFC.

If nobody in the NFC makes an appealing offer, the Steelers still have other trade parameters in place. Their perennial playoff rivals in the New England Patriots and any of their division rivals are also off-limits, as well.

Assuming these reports are true, one team that could make a great deal of sense is the Carolina Panthers. NFL reporter Peter King put forth a theory that Carolina could make a run at Brown based on a few different factors.

First, new Panthers owner David Tepper invested money in both the Steelers and Brown’s alma mater Central Michigan University before he bought the Panthers. He would, theoretically, be aware of what kind of player he was getting in Brown.

Second, the Panthers have a desperate need to put talent around quarterback Cam Newton. None of their wide receivers have registered 1,000 yards in a season since Kelvin Benjamin did it in 2014. Tight end Greg Olsen has also only played 16 combined games in the past two seasons, leaving running back Christian McCaffrey as Newton’s most reliable target.

Brown has caught at least 100 passes for at least 1,200 yards in six straight seasons. Finding salary cap room for Brown could be difficult. However, after three years of inconsistency following their loss in Super Bowl 50, the Panthers might be inclined to make it work.

Brown has often been linked to the San Francisco 49ers in recent months, though it is not known yet if the interest is mutual. King also named the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as destinations that would make sense for Brown, among others.

The Steelers and Brown mutually agreed it was time for a trade after a meeting last week. Around the same time, Brown said he wants to play for a team with good chemistry and little drama. His trade value could be lower than expected due to friction with the Steelers last year and multiple recent off-the-field incidents.