Report: Antonio Brown is NOT on the Broncos radar

According to 9NEWS Denver’s MIke Klis, the Denver Broncos are not interested in trading for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Antonio Brown.

According to Klis, the Broncos are not interested in giving up a high round draft pick AND pay Browns remaining contract, especially for a 31 year old receiver.

The Broncos aren’t interested in the Steelers’ controversial receiver. Among the non-starters is Brown wants to renegotiate his current contract that pays him $15.125 million in 2019; $11.3 million in 2020 and $12.5 million in 2021.

To pay that kind of money, AND give up a high-round draft pick – AND have to pay even more to keep Brown happy? It doesn’t make sense. The Broncos need another veteran receiver to add to their group that includes Emmanuel Sanders coming off an Achilles injury, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Tim Patrick. But it won’t be Antonio Brown.

This report contradicts and likely puts another L in the loss column for NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Back in early January he reported that the Broncos are expected to be among the teams interested in trading for Brown.

“I am told to keep an eye on the Denver Broncos,” Rapoport said. “They may be one of the teams plotting a run at Antonio Brown.”

Now, he does state that the Broncos are expected to target another veteran receiver to go with Emmanuel Sanders, and youngsters Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, and Tim Patrick. However, that veteran will not be Brown and likely a deep threat for soon to be acquired quarterback, Joe Flacco.

Personally, I was not interested in Brown when Case Keenum was expected to be the starter next season but was slightly more open to it after the Flacco news. He would have given Flacco a high end receiver to lean on and a deep threat option for him in an offense that will likely feature the deep ball.

In the end, I am not upset that the Broncos aren’t going this route. I imagine the compensation will be no less than a second rounder and adding that sort of contract for a 31 year old receiver likely doesn’t end well anyways. I haven’t even mentioned the off the field baggage and diva-like attitude that newly hired offensive line coach Mike Munchak witnessed during his time in Pittsburgh. I imagine Elway and Fangio asked Munchak about Brown in some fashion and his opinion likely swayed them one way or another.

The Broncos need another option at receiver, but despite being super talented, Antonio Brown isn’t a great fit for the Broncos right now.