Report: Bills And Steelers Closing In On Deal For Antonio Brown
Mar 7, 2019, 9:15 PM
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Antonio Brown was one of the hottest names available and the Oakland Raiders were considered one of the favorites to land the receiver. Out of nowhere though, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that the Buffalo Bills are nearing a deal for the former All-Pro.
Sources: The #Steelers are closing in on a deal to send star WR Antonio Brown to the Buffalo #Bills. There it is.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2019
The Raiders were in on Brown for most of the off-season and it was even reported by Rapoport that the Raiders were the team to watch. The Steelers were reportedly asking for a first-round pick, which the Raiders have three of in the upcoming draft. The compensation for Brown has not been announced and the Bills have the ninth pick in the draft, which makes it unlikely a first-round pick is involved unless the two teams agreed to a swap. Pittsburgh has been looking to unload the 30-year-old after a tumultuous off-season where Brown demanded a trade after missing the teams Week 17 game.
The Raiders have a need at receiver but could have decided the asking price was too high for Brown. Oakland is also in a re-building phase and could have decided that taking on the large salary for a player who is on the wrong side of 30 wasn’t the best choice. Brown is scheduled to make roughly $35 million over the next three years after signing a four-year, $68 million contract in 2017 with Pittsburgh.
The deal can’t be officially announced until March 13.
