If Antonio Brown isn’t the NFL’s most polarizing player, he’s certainly in the conversation. Many were appalled by Brown’s seemingly undeserved redemption arc, returning from a year-long exile (the result of sexual misconduct allegations and serious charges stemming from an altercation with a moving-truck driver) to achieve Super Bowl glory riding the prodigious coat tails of one Tom Brady. Despite his alleged behavior, Brown was welcomed back more or less with open arms after serving an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s code of conduct, seamlessly acclimating to his new surroundings in Tampa.
Admittedly, Brown’s stats with the Buccaneers (53-564-6 in 11 games) weren’t anywhere close to the eye-popping figures he produced during his Steelers peak. But given the odd circumstances—joining a new team midseason after a year-plus layoff—Brown should be ecstatic with his performance in Tampa Bay. Third among active players in career receiving yards, the seven-time Pro Bowler undoubtedly comes with baggage, though his talent is undeniable.
The 32-year-old might lean toward maintaining the status quo in Tampa, but if Brown, who was mostly confined to a complementary role last season (he operated as the Bucs’ third receiver behind entrenched starters Mike Evans and Chris Godwin), is offered feature work elsewhere, that decision becomes much tougher. In a crowded free-agent class featuring Kenny Golladay, Will Fuller, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marvin Jones, Corey Davis and Curtis Samuel among other top-flight receivers, Brown could be at risk of falling through the cracks. But even if Brown’s market is initially slow to develop, it should only be a matter of time until the 11-year vet lands on his feet. With that in mind, here are seven teams I expect to have some level of interest in Brown once the opening bell for free agency rings at 4 PM ET on March 17th.
Baltimore Ravens
Aligning with the Ravens would be a no-brainer for Brown given his close ties to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (his cousin) and fellow Miami native Lamar Jackson, who AB was spotted training with last offseason. AB would represent a badly needed upgrade for the Ravens, who got frustratingly little from their receiving corps last season (NFL-worst 171.2 passing yards per game). Brown’s emphasis at this late juncture in his NFL journey is obvious—it’s Super Bowl or bust for the likely Hall-of-Famer. Only the Chiefs and Packers have logged more victories than Baltimore (25) the past two seasons, a fact the title-chasing Brown has surely taken note of. It would take a minor miracle for one of DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle or Ja’Marr Chase to fall to the Ravens with the 27th pick in April’s draft, making it all the more likely Baltimore will address its glaring wide receiver need in free agency.
Cleveland Browns
We know the Browns, coming off their best regular-season finish since Bill Belichick presided over the team in 1994, are all in. The Browns made a play for J.J. Watt upon his release from Houston (imagine the havoc he and fellow edge disruptor Myles Garrett could have wreaked together in Cleveland), but the former Defensive Player of the Year ultimately opted for a reunion with DeAndre Hopkins in the desert. With Rashard Higgins headed for free agency and Odell Beckham coming off an ACL tear, the latest setback in a long line of increasingly-compromising injuries (he’s also been the subject of trade speculation), the Browns face significant uncertainty at the receiver position. Between OBJ and outspoken quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Browns’ quota for colorful personalities might already be filled, but if Cleveland is serious about making a run at AFC heavyweights Kansas City and Buffalo, the difference-making, albeit high-maintenance Brown could be worth pursuing.
Green Bay Packers
In winning his third MVP, Aaron Rodgers registered the second-highest single-season passer rating in league history (121.5) while also toppling his own franchise mark in touchdowns with 48, good for fifth-most all-time. And it still wasn’t enough with Green Bay falling in the conference championship for the second straight year. The Packers would be wise to keep their superstar happy, lest he pull a Deshaun Watson and decide he wants out of Green Bay. That can be accomplished by bolstering Rodgers’ supporting cast, particularly at receiver, where the Packers don’t have much outside of four-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams, the NFL’s leader in touchdowns this past season with 18. Trusting the Packers to do right by Rodgers could be a lost cause after seeing them butcher last year’s draft (they reached for Jordan Love in the first round when stud receivers Chase Claypool and Tee Higgins were still available), then proceed to let Aaron Jones hit the market when Green Bay could easily have franchise-tagged him. With Rodgers entering his age-37 season, complacency is not a luxury the Packers can afford right now. Their title window is closing by the second and sitting out free agency while the rest of the league gets better can only accelerate that process. Whether it’s signing Brown, Golladay, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Will Fuller or Marvin Jones, coming up empty in free agency is simply not an option for the Packers in their current win-now capacity.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins might be thinking bigger than Brown—reports suggest they’re hot on Kenny Golladay’s trail. But if Miami fails in that pursuit, Brown might be the next-best thing. Brown is from the area and would surely jump at the chance to play for his hometown Fins, who are coming off an impressive 10-win season in 2020 and may have even left some meat on the bone, limping to the finish line by dropping three of their final four games. The Dolphins could wait to address their receiver need in April’s draft (Heisman winner DeVonta Smith should be there for the taking when Miami steps to the podium with the third overall pick), but why wait? Brown may prefer a more stable quarterback than Tua Tagovailoa, who largely underwhelmed as a rookie, but that shouldn’t stop Miami from courting him in free agency. Even if he’s lost a step or two, AB would be a noticeable upgrade for the Dolphins after trotting out DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant and Preston Williams in three-wide sets last season.
Kansas City Chiefs
It’s been a month since the Bucs handed Patrick Mahomes the worst loss of his NFL career, ending the Chiefs’ bid for a second straight Super Bowl. It’s not time to press the panic button—Mahomes’ presence assures Kansas City will be a force for years to come. But when your franchise quarterback is signed to the richest deal in American sports history, you’re not playing for silver anymore. Anything less than a ticker-tape parade is a disappointment. With underachieving Sammy Watkins probably headed elsewhere in free agency, what harm would it do for the Chiefs to at least kick the tires on Brown, who tallied six touchdowns over his final six games in 2020 including one at KC’s expense in Super Bowl LV? Very much in the autumn of his career, Brown isn’t chasing dollar signs anymore. It’s about rings. Linking up with Mahomes in Kansas City gives Brown arguably his best chance to raise another Lombardi.
San Francisco 49ers
A year after holding a double-digit lead over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, the Niners came back to Earth in a big way last season, plummeting to 6-10 amid a biblical wave of injuries. The solution to San Francisco’s plight could be as simple as better injury luck, but even if health cooperates, the 49ers low-wattage passing attack could make it difficult to climb out of the NFC West basement. Tight end George Kittle is on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory while Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have both shown flashes when healthy, though the team could still use a veteran receiving presence, an element the Niners have sorely lacked since Emmanuel Sanders’ departure last offseason. Brown, who once photo-shopped himself in a 49ers uniform, may have sworn off the Bay Area after his tumultuous stint in Oakland (he wore out his welcome with the Raiders before even playing a game). But if he’s willing to give Silicon Valley another go, AB could thrive playing under offensive prodigy Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.
Seattle Seahawks
Is Russell Wilson’s fractured relationship with the Seahawks beyond repair? Time will tell, but let’s say, hypothetically, Wilson and his longtime employer are able to patch up their differences. When Brown was in NFL purgatory last summer, waiting to see if the league would take him back, no one was pounding the table harder for him than his workout buddy Wilson. And while the Seahawks are well-stocked at receiver—DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett both crossed the 1,000-yard threshold last season—Brown would provide valuable depth and experience to an offense that seemed to lose its identity down the stretch. If nothing else, it would serve as a peace offering to Wilson, who has long dreamed of teaming up with Brown in the coffee capital.
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