There was a report back in February that ultimately proved to be nonsense. That the Green Bay Packers were trying to trade for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant.
That deal was said to be safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix straight up for Bryant.
Ha Ha: good riddance. Martavis: Welcome aboard!
Obviously, that deal never happened. The Packers still need a top-of-line receiver, however. Bryant hasn’t reached his potential in Pittsburgh, where Antonio Brown is the obvious alpha and Le’Veon Bell is next in line.
Bryant wants out from a situation where he’s also behind JuJu Smith-Schuster. And apparently, he’s available.
The noise around this situation has died down since October, when Bryant’s trade demands became public. But with one year left on his contract, Bryant is still hoping to find a situation that gives him a chance to function as a team’s No. 1 option. That’s not going to happen with Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell in Pittsburgh, obviously, and Pittsburgh has been quietly listening to offers over the past couple of months. Part of the holdup has been that some of the league’s more receiver-needy teams, such as Baltimore and New England, are rivals to whom the Steelers wouldn’t want to trade such a talented player.
Bryant is a former fourth-round pick. He was suspended for all of 2016 by the league. He’s never had more than 765 yards receiving in a season.
So what’s the appeal?
The guy can burn. He has a 15.2 yards per reception average over his three-year career. The Packers do not have a deep threat.
The Steelers’ trade options are slim if they refuse to deal Bryant to the Ravens or Patriots. Do they want a malcontent? It’s possible they will just hold onto Bryant for a season and let his rookie deal expire.
If I am Brian Gutekunst, I won’t give up a pick equal to or higher than where Bryant was drafted. I would give up a pick for the guy, though. Let’s say a fifth.
One way or another, the receiver position needs to be accounted for. Dez Bryant, Martavis Bryant, a draft pick who pretty much has no chance of contributing in year one?
Take your pick.
Hell, he’s worth a 3. I’d do that deal in a heart beat…….
This cat is available for a reason, much the same as Bryant. I’m not going to get a chubby for every malcontent wide receiver that comes available.
If JuJu Smith was available, i’d be singin a different tune.
The Packers are still too dumb to make such a move because they overvalue their own ability to draft impact players throughout the draft. It’s a nice pipe dream!
Gruden wants to let it fly.