Steelers trade WR Sammie Coates to the Browns
Martavis Bryant returning means Sammie Coates is out in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates has been traded to the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Browns will send a sixth round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the division rival Steelers in exchange for the third year receiver and a seventh round pick in 2019, this according to ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Here’s a full breakdown of the trade:
After limited opportunities as a rookie playing behind Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant Coates started five games as a sophomore. Catching only 21 of 49 targets the former Clemson Tiger finished with 435 receiving yards with two touchdowns.
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Coates joins a wide receiver room in Cleveland with 2016 first round pick Corey Coleman and veteran Kenny Britt. Rashad Higgins, Ricardo Louis, and Rannell Hall have battled for roster spots during the preseason and one could be out with Coates in town.
Pittsburgh could afford to move the 87th overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft after getting Bryant back from a one-year suspension ahead of the first game of the season. Coates’ departure is excellent news for second-round pick JuJu Smith-Shuster from USC and veteran Darius Heyward-Bey.
In fact, when Smith-Shuster was drafted in May, Bryant called him the “replacement” to Coates on social media.
Remember on draft day when Martavis Bryant said this about the pick of JuJu Smith-Schuster? pic.twitter.com/OMLTDqDQ6L
— uSTADIUM App (@uSTADIUM) September 2, 2017
Adding a young wide receiver with potential, Cleveland is smartly using their immense draft capital accumulated through offseason trades with Houston and Kansas City.
The Browns’ dozen draft picks in 2018 are the most in the league, allowing them to either make trades such as this or add through the college system.
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Overall it’s a fair trade that works out for both teams in the AFC North. Cleveland picks up a young receiver and a late round draft pick while giving up little capital.