Steelers Not Shopping Martavis Bryant

As presently constructed, the Steelers boast a high-powered array of weaponry at wide receiver. And as teams prepare to convene at the Combine, Pittsburgh intends on keeping its status quo at wideout.

The Steelers are not shopping Martavis Bryant, who was involved in trade rumors at the 2017 deadline, with Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reporting (on Twitter) the team isn’t calling teams about unloading the mercurial pass-catcher while also not fielding offers for him.

Bryant enjoyed an eventful 2017, being reinstated then returning to a team that now had an emerging No. 2 wide receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster. Antonio Brown‘s previous top sidekick, when available, was involved in rampant trade rumors — ones that may or may not have included him requesting a Pittsburgh exit — and mentioned Smith-Schuster in a social media spat. But after the season, Bryant said he wanted to return to the Steelers in 2018.

One year remains on Bryant’s rookie contract, thanks to it tolling because of his 2016 suspension. While the Steelers aren’t taking calls on him, they are not discussing an extension, either, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Steelers became resolute at the October deadline, insisting they weren’t trading Bryant. That stance became clear to Bryant when the Steelers deemed his talent too valuable compared to what would come back to them in a trade, Fowler reports.

Bryant matched his career high with 50 receptions last season, only those came in a career-high 15 games after he’d snared 50 passes (for a career-best 765 yards) in 11 games in 2015. Bryant averaged a career-low 12.3 yards per catch in 2017, a season that saw Brown stay on his stratospheric pace and Smith-Schuster produce the best receiving season in his rookie class. The trio may well have another chance to work together in 2018.