The 49ers and Antonio Brown became connected recently after Jerry Rice said in a radio interview Brown wants a trade to San Francisco “really bad.”
Perhaps the team is interested as well. Some in league circles believe the 49ers have “real interest” in acquiring Brown, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, adding that the team will be inclined to explore what it will take to land the disgruntled Steelers wide receiver.
An NFL.com report over the weekend mentioned the Broncos as a possible Brown suitor and pegged the Steelers as ready to contact teams about moving the four-time All-Pro, noting it might not take a first-round pick to pry him from Pittsburgh.
The 49ers’ position behind the Rams and Seahawks in the NFC West, with John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan entering their third offseasons running this team, may point to the franchise being eager to do what it can to catch up quickly. San Francisco is expected to have Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon back in 2019 to pair with George Kittle. But the 49ers, employment of Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis notwithstanding, lack an impact wideout. They did not chase big-ticket free agent receivers in 2018, opting to let others pay Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson, but Brown is obviously on another tier by comparison.
Brown has three years and $39MM remaining on his contract. As has been the case throughout the Lynch-Shanahan era, the 49ers among the league leaders in projected cap space. They are expected to hold more than $62MM. Art Rooney II pointed to a bleak future for the Steelers and Brown, indicating it was hard to envision the soon-to-be 31-year-old superstar in Pittsburgh next season after the way this past one ended.
Good teams get rid of players early. Bad teams think ‘vets’ are the way to ‘rebuild’ a team. In the 18 seasons played this century, I’ll take the Steelers philosophy over the 9’ers any day of the week.
+1
You talk like the Steelers have won something meaningful lately. I’m sure JuJu will be just as productive without Brown taking the double teams next year.
I’s say 8 division titles since ’04 w/ the North was formed is pretty impressive. Throw in 2 SB’s as well. Not sure what you need more than that? Can’t win it every year.
*I’d say….
The niners brought in 2 “vets” in 2 years. Sherman on a ridiculously team friendly contract and garçon. 3 if you count kickers. They are a really young team overall soooooooooooo……….
Did you forget about your QB and RB?
Are you actually trying to imply that mckinnon and garoppolo are vets who are past their prime? Mckinnon is 26, and Garoppolo is 27.
When did I say any of the vets are old? AB is still a great player. I said Pit knows when to move on from them.
Looks to me like Brown knows when he should leave Pitt
Well I guess JJ has never heard of George Allen who owns the best winning percentage of any coach that coached more than 150 games. Allen got kidded a lot about his fondness for “over the hill” vets but the results speak for themselves.
He also didn’t have today’s Free Agency so the players he could target were the ones other teams didnt want to keep. Not to mention a 2-7 playoff record.
This isn’t the 49ers philosophy. They haven’t been giving out large contracts (or absorbing them) since Lynch/Shanahan came on board. This is easily deduced by the amount of cap room they have had annually.
it’s funny how this guy interprets a rumor as an entire team philosophy
Brown is a diva.
The minute he loses a step,
he’s gone…..
The owners are the diva’s, not the players. They literally own a worthless product without the talent yet they seem fit to ridicule them as human beings at any given moment.
Few days ago threw out that SF would be a good match for a trade whereas the Steelers package Brown and their #1 to SF for their #1. Who knows what the deal may be, but it’s a good match of teams and needs.
I agree, I think Brown and a switch of #1’s would be fair to both sides. It worked last year for Bills and Bengals with Cordy Glenn.
I agree as a Steeler fan I have been saying it since AB walked out at halftime. But I think the Niners would much rather trade fown to say Giants or Jags and then trade that pick to the Steelers for AB & the 20. I really believe a team in the 8-12 range may make a deal without the Steelers giving up their pick.
I could see the Bills or Lions maybe moving their 1st straight up for AB. Def could see the Packers giving up the Saints pick. Gonna be interesting to say the least. How bout going home to Miami to give the fans something to cheer for while they tank for the Tua or Herbert ?
I don’t believe these indiders when they say the Steelers won’t get a 1st round pick.
And by the way if they were to ever get the 2nd overall pick I would like to see them trade down with the Giants or Jags and get more for that pick.
Unless Bosa is there at 2. Then u team Bosa and Watt and have a scary ass tandem.
A healthy Niners will be a scary team Jimmy G with targets like Kittle & AB will spread D’s thin especially when you have a guy like Garçon who can eat you up on quick slant routes and Goodwin running the screen or RPO…..add Pettis who is only going to get better, that is one deep WR core in today’s NFL. Also don’t forget a healthy 2 headed beast of McKinnon and Breida and pro bowl full back Juszczyk who will be a handful on 3 downs ….at the end of the day the Steelers want to unload AB and the Niners have the picks, cash and need to make it happen, personally as a miner fan I would love to see this followed but future battles between hem and the Rams!
The consensus was a #3 pick bc hes ‘damaged goods’ on NFL Live.
If that’s the best offer than I would rather keep him. He is worth more than that.
Damaged goods? Over 100 catches and over 1250 yards for six consecutive seasons is damaged goods? LOL!
The Raiders just got a first rounder for Amari Cooper. I get he’s younger but he was in no way the proven commodity AB is.
He is not worth the number two overall. More value to trade down and see if you can grab him for a fair market trade.