Are the Oakland Raiders Out on Antonio Brown?

Have the presumed favorites to land Antonio Brown dropped out of the bidding?

For weeks, most of the NFL Insiders have pegged the Oakland Raiders as the most likely destination for Brown but a Raiders beat writer doesn’t agree with that.

Jerry McDonald of the Mercury News wrote Thursday morning that his sources say that Brown coming to Oakland isn’t likely to happen for a few reasons.

McDonald cites the Steelers asking price as the top reason. The management team of Jon Gruden and new GM Mike Mayock want and need to accumulate young talent and know the draft is the only real way to accomplish that. Despite owning three first round picks (4th, 24th and 27th) in the upcoming draft, the Raiders won’t be willing to part with either the 24th or the 27th pick, which is a deal breaker (the 4th overall pick isn’t even being considered). If the Steelers are willing to take less than a first round pick, than the two sides could try to work something out.

According to McDonald, another factor in the Raiders non-interest is Brown’s desire to get a new contract extension. In fact, it was reported yesterday that Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenthal, reportedly promised to get his client a new deal in place as soon as a trade is completed. The talented wide out is already due $12.65 million in 2019, $11.3 million in 2020 and $12.5 million in 2021. The Raiders don’t appear to be real anxious to dish out a lot more money to the 31-year old wide receiver.

McDonald closes things out by saying “while there is some interest in Brown, it’s not enough to substantially alter the Raiders’ financial structure for a short-term again when the franchise is taking the long view.”

If this proves to be accurate, the Raiders, NY Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts all have no interest in trading for the talented yet problematic Brown.