The Antonio Brown Story
With the NFL offseason underway, storylines are always out there. So far, talk has been dominated by the Steelers and WR Antonio Brown. Brown announced that he’d like to be traded. The Steelers, rightfully, said they’d oblige. Even after a talk with owner Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh has decided that moving from Brown is the best for all parties. This begs the question: what are the best fits for Antonio Brown? Although the ideal teams were covered in an earlier article, one team that no one is talking about is the New York Giants.
The Odell Beckham Jr. Story
Last offseason, it was rumored that Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. was on the trading block and that New York was entertaining offers. The San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots all had interest in trading for the star WR. Despite all the assets that the Giants could’ve acquired, Patriots HC Bill Belichick’s growing interest for Beckham Jr. made it clear to New York that he must be kept. So the Giants retained Beckham Jr., signing him to a five-year $90 million extension.
He’d go on to record 77 receptions, 1,052 yards, and six touchdowns during the 2018 season. Fast forward to today, Beckham Jr’s name is yet again the topic of interesting trade talks. Despite losing out on him last offseason, the 49ers are reportedly looking to pursue him once more.
Beyond that, it’s looking like Odell doesn’t have a good relationship with New York’s coaching staff for a multitude of reasons. With that, why shouldn’t the Giants look at offers for Odell once again? They have a bunch of holes they need to fill, including quarterback. They have one first-round pick in the upcoming draft and that pick is most likely going to be Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins.
Every other problem must be addressed either through draft picks of lesser importance or free agency. If the offensive line, linebacking, and pass-rush problems are going to be addressed, that leaves only one issue. Who or what should the Giants look to receive in exchange for Beckham Jr? The answer is Antonio Brown.
Why The Trade Makes Sense
Brown on Instagram Live has made it clear he’s willing to go to any team that’s willing to give him guaranteed money. The Giants technically can fill that void. It makes sense for the Giants particularly because they’re going to give up a star wideout, and they should get one in return.
Both Beckham’s and Brown’s behavior either implies or confirms that they don’t want to be with their current teams. For the Steelers, they’d be getting rid of Brown and his drama while receiving a stud who may just end up being better than Brown ever was. As for Beckham, he’d be put in a winning organization with an elite QB in Ben Rothlisberger who’ll get him the ball with ease.
The Steelers have already declined to franchise RB Le’Veon Bell, making him a free agent. RB James Conner is officially the starter. WR Juju Smith-Schuster just had a breakout season. The drama was definitely a factor into why the Pittsburgh didn’t make the playoffs. Getting rid of Bell and Brown would give the Steelers some breathing room to get back to the storied franchise they are. Big Ben, OBJ, James Conner, and Smith-Schuster would be a core to fear. This is especially true when OBJ is only 26 and only going to get better.
Potential Problems
A flaw or factor in this trade scenario could be Antonio Brown’s age. Brown is 30 years old, and although he’s still an elite receiver, only time will tell when a decline would happen for him. Even if we all began to see a decline in Brown’s numbers, the Giants have proven that they’re able to win Super Bowls without an elite WR. In terms of the present, Brown is an upgrade from Odell.
Another factor would be the QB position. Like every wideout, they want a quarterback who’s going to get them the ball. Fortunately for Brown, QB Eli Manning most likely wouldn’t be the quarterback he’d deal with but rather Dwayne Haskins.
It’s worth noting that Brown didn’t request a trade from the Steelers because of talent or winning but because of the fractured relationships between him and certain players and coaches. The Giants would not only see Brown having a fresh start, but they’d have a fresh QB and RB to form yet another prominent big three.
Does this trade seem possible and need to be talked about more? Draft picks, money, and other players may need to be factored in, but overall, this trade would not only suppress the controversy surrounding both
Does this trade make sense for both teams? Are Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown better off on other teams? Let me know below.
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