Redskins should not consider trading for Antonio Brown

So, Antonio Brown is reportedly seeking to be traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No, no. Stop celebrating. I’m gonna stop you right there. No.

Yes, there are rumors that Brown and the Steelers have had a falling out recently. Brown reportedly got into an argument with a fellow player at practice ahead of Week 17, and that argument escalated, culminating in a conclusion that saw Brown benched for Pittsburgh’s crucial matchup versus the Bengals.

Details later surfaced that the player argued with at practice was none other than Ben Roethlisberger, and shortly after, NFL.com’s Austin Knoblauch reported that Roethlisberger and Brown had not spoken since Thursday.

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Yesterday, Jason La Canfora then built on the suspicions, asserting that Brown had indeed requested for a trade. That assertion was backed by sentiments from NFL insider Benjamin Allbright. Brown also liked several posts suggesting that his preferred destination is the San Francisco 49ers. But for the right price, Pittsburgh could send him anywhere.

Theoretically, it makes sense that the Washington Redskins would seem to be a fitting destination. The Redskins have a desperate need for dynamic playmakers on offense, and Antonio Brown is about as dynamic as they come. But while Brown fits the description as an defibrillator for a flat-lined offense, the costs of the move might outweigh the long-term gain.

Yes, Brown is an All-Pro wide receiver, and The Draft Network’s Brad Kelly recently listed Brown as the No. 4 wide receiver in the entire NFL, behind only Deandre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, and Julio Jones. Brown would give the Redskins the star talent they’ve needed for so long. But for the Redskins, a team with a vast allotment of needs, minimal cap space, and a need to retain draft picks, Brown does not fit the affordability bill.

Per Spotrac, in 2019, Brown is owed a base salary of approximately $22.2 million, with a listed dead cap hit of $21.1 million. A trade for Brown would not only expunge the Redskins of at least a first-round pick, but it would completely dissolve their ability to add any talent through free agency in 2019.

Couple the costs with the secondary factors, and this trade loses even more luster. Brown turns 31 years old in July, and he’s often been regarded as a locker room diva who doesn’t always think about the team. He’s not a long-term asset, and the Redskins are in no position to trade the farm as if they’re only a player away. For the 2019 Redskins, the only value Brown would provide might be from a reputation standpoint, as a desperate attempt by Dan Snyder to win fans back with a shiny new toy.

Next. Three options at QB in 2019 for the Redskins. dark

You know, if you put it that way… this trade doesn’t seem all too unrealistic.

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