The trade talks for disgruntled receiver Antonio Brown are beginning to heat up at the NFL Scouting Combine according to multiple sources.
A number of teams have shown interest in acquiring Brown, including the Raiders, Saints, Titans and Redskins. Others also have made initial inquiries. Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the interest by the Raiders, Titans and Redskins, but the Saints are a new bidder.
But because of the Steelers' asking price of a first-round pick in this year's draft, New Orleans isn't considered a serious contender. The Saints traded their top pick in the 2019 draft to the Packers last year to move up and acquire defensive end Marcus Davenport in the 2018 draft.
Because the Steelers have been adamant about getting a first-round pick in return for Brown, other teams that have inquired about him have backed away for now. But, as the Steelers move closer to March 17, when Brown is due a $2.5-million roster bonus, some teams are hopeful the Steelers will lower their asking price.
Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said earlier this week that won't be the case, and with a number of teams serious about acquiring Brown, there remains a confidence with the Steelers that they will get something done that is to their liking.
The Raiders have emerged as the most likely suitor given the fact they have multiple picks in the first round of the draft, picks 4, 24 and 27. Washington has the 15th pick in the first round, while Tennessee has pick 19, one spot ahead of the Steelers.
Brown, who set an NFL record in 2018 with his sixth consecutive 100-catch season, has scared some teams away because of the belief he will ask for a new contract once a trade is completed. He currently is slated to make $12.65 million in 2019 and has three years remaining on his contract at salaries of $11.3 and $12.5 million in the final two seasons.
Given his age -- he will turn 31 this summer -- teams are going to be reluctant to give him a new deal with guaranteed money until they have an opportunity to work with Brown on a regular basis.
The Combine wraps up here on Tuesday and there's a belief the Steelers could leave here with a pretty good idea of where they will send Brown by then, though the deal might not be agreed upon until a later date. Any trade would not become official until the new league year begins March 13.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have been meeting with a number of receiving prospects in the past two days at the Combine, including but not limited to, A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf of Mississippi, Deebo Samuel of South Carolina, and Riley Ridley of Georgia. All are considered players who will be selected in the first two days of the draft (rounds 1-3) in April.