Oakland Raiders: Is Antonio Brown an attractive trade target?

Wide receiver Antonio Brown is open for business. Should the Oakland Raiders engage in trade talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Where will wideout Antonio Brown suit up for the 2019 season? Right now, it doesn’t seem like the four-time All-Pro stays with the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to MMQB’s Albert Breer, the Oakland Raiders could enter the picture as a suitor.

On the surface, it’s a logical player-team match. Oakland’s offense needs a top wideout. Historically, the Raiders have acquired great talents with big personalities — look no further than Randy Moss when it comes to wide receivers. That pairing didn’t work out for either side. The Hall of Fame receiver had an underwhelming two-year stint with the Silver and Black.

Similar to Moss, Brown is a supreme talent. He’s recorded 1,200-plus receiving yards in each of the last six seasons and led the league in yards for two of those campaigns. On the other side of the coin, the 30-year-old has been unhappy with a winning franchise—much of his disdain directed toward quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

He expressed his thoughts via Twitter on Saturday:

Brown’s outspoken nature can be viewed as positive or negative, but no one can dispute his numbers. After playing for a winning team for the last nine seasons, how would he handle taking the field for a franchise that’s put together one winning campaign since the 2002 term, currently rebuilding and on the move?

Most would say money talks, especially when it’s untaxed in Las Vegas, but Brown expressed his competitive nature in a series of recent tweets:

Any true competitor ultimately wants to win after securing high compensation. The Steelers wideout doesn’t have to worry about cash. It’s possible losing for at least a year as the Raiders develop a bare-bones roster could make a transition to Oakland rocky on arrival. He’s had some not-so-flattering moments with the Steelers that have caused critics to label him a malcontent at times.

Of course, when asked about potential suitors, Brown kept an open mind. “Wherever God takes me, I’m excited to be,” he said.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the root of Brown’s unhappiness in Pittsburgh, which probably started years ago. Perhaps a change in scenery would suit him well, but Oakland—and soon-to-be Las Vegas—isn’t the right situation from the Raiders’ perspective.

If Oakland came off a winning season and made a strong push during the 2018-19 playoffs, then sure, Brown could put this team over the top. In reality, head coach Jon Gruden and company gutted the roster and finished 4-12.

The Raiders have four picks within the top 35. If the team plans to spend big money on a player, it should be an elite pass-rusher. General manager Mike Mayock can potentially find a WR1 on Day 2 of the upcoming draft. Team brass needs to solve its offensive line issues and strengthen a defense that just allowed the most points (467) in team history.

As the finishing touch on a playoff team, Brown would serve as an excellent pickup, but the Raiders don’t have a foundation or established identity yet. The front office has $69.8 million to absorb his contract and not cripple the cap space, but the move doesn’t seem logical if it doesn’t equal a significant boost in the win column.

The Raiders must keep their priorities in order; a star wide receiver isn’t the first block to building a championship roster. To contend, Oakland needs sweeping improvements across its defense and stronger pass protection for quarterback Derek Carr. Check off those boxes first then think about spending cash on a highly-dependent perimeter asset.