Green Bay Packers: Don’t expect a trade for Antonio Brown

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 23: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 23: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Don’t expect the Green Bay Packers to make a trade for Antonio Brown.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Pittsburgh Steelers want to move quickly with a potential Antonio Brown trade, and hope to have it completed this week.

There are a number of reasons why the Green Bay Packers likely won’t be involved.

While the Packers have two first-round picks and could potentially offer the No. 30 selection, the biggest issue could be the contract.

On Instagram Live last month, Brown told teams with guaranteed money to call him. One team with lots of money available is the New York Jets, but Rapoport noted that they no longer have interest in trading for Brown.

But it’s not like New York doesn’t have draft picks to trade away, either. As well as the third overall pick, the Jets own four selections inside the top 106 overall, including two third-rounders. Even if they had to give away both third-round picks, they could potentially trade down from No. 3 and gain a couple of mid-rounders in return, while also trading for Brown.

Rapoport also noted that the Oakland Raiders have “stayed consistently in the mix”. If the Raiders make a serious offer, it will be tough for the Packers to compete.

The Raiders possibly have the most to offer the Steelers. Like the Packers, Oakland owns 10 draft picks, but three are in the first round. The Raiders will pick five times inside the top 66 overall, and own the No. 4, No. 24 and No. 27 overall selections.

Also, according to Over The Cap, Oakland has over $71 million in cap room, sixth-most in the NFL. The Raiders could almost certainly afford to offer Brown a new long-term deal.

Perhaps the only advantage the Packers have over the Raiders is that they play in the NFC.

Anything can happen in the NFL, and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has shown a willingness to make bold moves over the past year. Maybe Green Bay will be among the teams seriously interested in trading for Brown, but I think it’s highly unlikely they make a trade this week.