NFL Rumors: Broncos Bow Out Of Antonio Brown Sweepstakes

There are allegedly at least three NFL teams interested in Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and the Denver Broncos are not one of them. It appears the team is not interested in the 30-year-old player due to his pricey contract.

This was revealed by Mike Klis of 9News who singled out the $22.2 million cap hit for 2019. In return, the Steelers wanted a high-round draft pick, a scenario the Broncos were unwilling to consider.

So now, the waiting game continues for the Steelers. According to general manager Kevin Colbert, discussions are underway with three unnamed NFL teams. The Broncos would have made sense, seeing how they are in need of a wide receiver, the Bleacher Report reported.

Right now, the Broncos do have Emmanuel Sanders. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles back in December and a contract restructuring has been suggested. The 31-year-old scoffed these insinuations although the Broncos could save $10.3 million in cap space if they release him.

Should that happen, it leaves the Broncos with a bigger problem since it would leave a big void in terms of reliable receivers for Denver. Other receivers in the mix so far are Courtland Sutton and Daesean Hamilton, both unproven.

Denver is expected to continue its search for a cost-efficient wide receiver in the free agent market instead. With Joe Flacco coming in from the Baltimore Ravens, the Broncos need to make sure that he gets the proper weapons on the outside.

As for Brown, the understanding right now is that he is really headed out of Pittsburgh. So far, teams linked to him have been nothing more than speculation. Among the teams suggested include the Oakland Raiders and the Carolina Panthers.

With the Raiders, Brown could fill up a big hole in the wide receiver position. They have Jordy Nelson, Marell Ateman and possibly Seth Roberts, Oakland is likely to try and plug that hole in the 2019 NFL Draft, Fansided reported.

The same scenario holds true for the Panthers who could use a big shot in the arm by adding Brown. The Panthers have yet to follow up on their Super Bowl appearance three years ago and adding someone like Brown could give them a new lease. It may all depend on the call of general manager Marty Hurney who is known to be a conservative person by nature, Yardbarker reported.

Brown is undoubtedly a big fish available in the NFL market right now. But the team that gets him will need to do some pencil pushing since the wide receiver does have a hefty contract.