Steelers Trade WR Antonio Brown to Raiders

Brown leads all NFL receivers in receptions and touchdowns since 2013.

The Steelers traded wide receiver Antonio Brown to the Raiders, Pittsburgh confirmed on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh will receive a 2019 third-round draft pick (No. 66 overall) and fifth-round pick (No. 141 overall) in exchange for the wideout.

News of the trade was first reported on Sunday. Brown's three-year contract, which is currently worth $38.9 million, will increase to $50.1 million in a new deal with the Raiders, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported on Sunday. The wideout receives a bump from $0 to $30.125 million in full guarantees and an $11.2 million raise over three years, per The MMQB’s Albert Breer. Brown will also receive a revision to the four-year extension he negotiated in 2017, pushing it to $79.2 million ($19.8 million APY), which is first among wide receivers.

Brown tweeted a photo of himself in a Raiders uniform early Sunday morning.

☠️☠️☠️ #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/ul6lIVk9dE

— AB (@AB84) March 10, 2019

Love at first Sight...... @derekcarrqb pic.twitter.com/YiuCLq3G9z

— AB (@AB84) March 10, 2019

On Wednesday, the Steelers released a statement saying they believe the trade "was in the best interest" of the team.

"Antonio remains one of the best players in the National Football League, but as we believe, this move was in the best interest of the Pittsburgh Steelers," GM Kevin Colbert said in the statement. "We wish Antonio all the best the rest of his career."

Statement from GM Kevin Colbert on Antonio Brown: pic.twitter.com/MxPxjXDucV

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 13, 2019

Brown appeared to be on his way to Buffalo on Thursday night, but reports emerged on Friday that a deal was "unlikely." Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed the deal was dead on Friday morning, telling ESPN's Mike Rodak, "We have moved on and our focus is on free agency."

The Central Michigan product spent the first nine years of his career with the Steelers. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler. Brown has 837 career receptions for 11,207 yards since entering the NFL in 2010, the most of any player. His 74 career touchdowns trail only Rob Gronkowski since 2010. 

Brown sat out Pittsburgh's Week 17 matchup with the Bengals last season. He met with Steelers owner Art Rooney II in February and reiterated his request to be traded.

The Raiders finished last year at 4–12 and fourth in the AFC West.

Brown tallied 104 catches last season, his sixth straight year of 100-plus receptions. He led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions in 2018.