3 best bets on where Antonio Brown will play in 2019
The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense could look much different next season if disgruntled superstar receiver Antonio Brown is no longer in the fold.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said last week the team won't release Brown - who appears to want out - but that it's "hard to envision" the receiver still being with Pittsburgh by training camp. A trade is the most likely option, but there needs to be a taker who's willing to offer a nice haul in return (CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora said the Steelers are seeking a first-round pick).
With that in mind, here are three wagers we recommend for where Brown will be playing when Week 1 of the 2019 season kicks off (odds courtesy BookMaker):
Favorite - San Francisco 49ers (+211)
The 49ers should certainly be interested, as they'll have plenty of cap room and Brown would give quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo a true No. 1 wide receiver alongside star tight end George Kittle. San Francisco's status as the front-runner also stems from comments made by former receiver Jerry Rice, who said Brown wants to play for the Niners "really bad." It's no done deal - the 49ers would need to pony up a package that fits what the Steelers are looking for - but there are good reasons San Fran is seen as the likeliest destination.
Underdog - Field (+302)
The field is comprised of every team outside of the Steelers, 49ers, Jets, Raiders, Cardinals, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Colts.
While these are mostly receiver-needy teams who struggled in 2018, who says a playoff contender can't strike a deal to land Brown? La Canfora's report actually mentioned the Eagles, Packers, and Seahawks as franchises that the Steelers expect to hear from, while Rooney's pessimism certainly points to Brown ending up outside of Pittsburgh.
Long shot - Arizona Cardinals (+708)
Predictably, there isn't a specific team in the +1000-or-better tier that makes perfect sense. The Colts don't seem like a franchise willing to take on that baggage, the Dolphins would be an odd fit, and would the Cowboys really trade for another premier wide receiver? Not going to happen.
So, the Cardinals could be the best long shot at +708.
Arizona has a bundle of salary-cap space and a dire need for another playmaker on the outside to help young quarterback Josh Rosen. The Cardinals also made a savvy hire this offseason with new head coach Kliff Kingsbury, one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. Brown apparently didn't like sharing targets in Pittsburgh, but he wouldn't have to worry about that in Arizona and could jump-start the offense immediately.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.