Antonio Brown: Most likely destinations after release from Raiders
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are a team that were so close to the Super Bowl a year ago (arguably one missed pass interference call away) and are looking for whatever can help them get over that hump and back to the big dance. New Orleans is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and could be just one playmaker away from another Super Bowl.
The Saints may be running out of years with top-tier Drew Brees at quarterback. With a 40-year old at quarterback, New Orleans is looking to win right now. They have so many talented young players on their roster and could make that jump on their own this year without any more additions. But adding an All-Pro receiver certainly couldn’t hurt.
Think about the Saints offense if they signed Antonio Brown. Brown and Thomas on the outside, new tight end Jared Cook over the middle, and dynamic running back Alvin Kamara coming out of the backfield. With a solid offensive line, veteran leadership at quarterback, and an improved defense, the Saints could make some noise.
Sean Payton and Drew Brees could be great for Brown. Everyone in the league respects Brees, and if the Saints brought him in and sat him down with Brees I think they could make a believer out of him. Pairing Brown and Thomas would be a huge move for the Saints and could put them in the driver’s seat in the NFC.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers experienced a bit of a “rebuild” recently. Bringing in a new head coach this offseason, and getting younger across the entire roster that past few years, the direction that the Pack is going is kind of unclear. But as long as they have Aaron Rodgers at the helm, they know that they can win. And I’m sure that is the goal for Green Bay in 2019.
Like Brees, Rodgers is a top NFL quarterback who isn’t getting any younger. Battling through injuries in recent years, a healthy Aaron Rodgers is imperative for any success in Green Bay this season. But also key is to surround him with enough talent to go all the way.
Davante Adams is one of the best wide receivers in the league and is a go-to for Rodgers year after year. But beyond Adams, Green Bay has lacked solid offensive weapons in recent seasons. Bringing in Antonio Brown could be instrumental. Defenses couldn’t solely focus on Adams or Brown. The two could form a dynamic duo that could bring Rodgers back to the top of the list when it comes to the best QBs in the league.
This one seems a little less likely due to the new coach and new offense that is still being implemented in Green Bay. The team may not want to bring in any sort of distraction that would prevent the players from focusing on learning and improving. But Matt LaFleur is an offensive-minded coach who would love to have another talented, versatile receiver at his disposal.
The addition of Brown to the Packers may not make the most sense in some people’s eyes, but there is pressure on the team to win. It’s been since 2011 that the Pack last won the Super Bowl. They have had arguably the most talented quarterback of this generation on their team for about 10 years now but have missed the playoffs the last two seasons. Brown may be the talent that they need around Rodgers to get them back on top.