NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While the Titans seriously contemplated making a move for Antonio Brown and looked hard into it, things are now leaning in a direction away from them making a move.
What I’ve learned lines up with a somewhat offhanded comment ESPN’s Dianna Russini made during a broadcast Thursday when she said she’d been told the Titans had moved on, though I’m not certain it’s that definitive.
It’s unclear what led to things leaning away from a move now after a good period of real possibility. But it could clearly be any number of things, from the price of a trade with the Steelers to what Brown may have felt, in back channeled communications, about the team or the potential for a revised contract in Nashville this year or next. [Unlocked]
He’s got three years remaining on his deal in Pittsburgh with base salaries of $12.625 million, $11.3 million and $12.5 million. He’s due a $2.5 million roster bonus next week that he declined to push back, so the Steelers would like to move him before they have to pay it. Adam Schefter has said a deal could be consummated Friday.
The Titans were involved in trade talks for Amari Cooper before the trade deadline and now
for Brown.
Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel clearly want a top-flight receiver on a team that’s renowned for its failings at the position since it came to Tennessee in 1997.
The quality in the free-agent class is not of the same caliber, but they could turn to the likes of Tyrell Williams from the Chargers or Adam Humphries from the Buccaneers and then add in the draft, where many analysts say there is no clear-cut No. 1 receiver.
The Titans spent the fifth overall pick in the 2017 draft on Corey Davis. They choose 19th overall this year.
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