Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant recently requested a trade, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, and there should be a robust market for his services.
Bryant missed the entire 2016 season due to a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, and his volatility may scare off some teams. At his best, however, Bryant is a dynamic force that can elevate any passing attack.
Below, we examine five teams that ought to trade for him.
Atlanta Falcons
Bryant would hop from one Super Bowl contender to another upon joining the Falcons, working alongside Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Taylor Gabriel. Defensive coordinators everywhere would lose sleep over this combination.
The 25-year-old is a fit for the Falcons as he provides them with a genuine downfield weapon - essentially, a supersized version of Gabriel. If the Falcons' offense has one fault, it's the lack of a potent red-zone threat, and Bryant also helps alleviate that problem. Get Thomas Dimitroff on the phone.
Chicago Bears
Bryant would become the Bears' No. 1 receiver by default, since Cameron Meredith and Kevin White are out for the season with injuries. The Bears selected Mitchell Trubisky second overall, and now he's starting with a host of sub-replacement options. Bryant would facilitate Trubisky's development and get the increase in targets he so desires, while the Bears land another young, talented player.
Don't be surprised if Ryan Pace strikes a deal.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns are still rebuilding and the 25-year-old Bryant would be a foundational piece of the young offense. Bryant has a base familiarity with the AFC North that his prospective teammates would certainly appreciate, and few things are more gratifying than getting revenge twice a year against your former club.
Kenny Britt hasn't worked out the way the Browns envisioned, and Bryant is three years younger while boasting much more potential. As Cleveland's quarterback carousel spins, Bryant could provide some stability for the basement-dwellers.
Dallas Cowboys
It's always painful to acknowledge the passing of time, but the 2014 iteration of Dez Bryant isn't coming back. While the elder Bryant is still a strong contributor, the Cowboys lack a fear-inducing complementary piece - Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Brice Butler, Noah Brown, and Ryan Switzer round out the receiving corps.
Dallas' chances of returning to the postseason seem dire with Ezekiel Elliott entangled in a complex legal battle, but Martavis could change the trajectory of the offense. Despite the chaos around Dak Prescott, the quarterback has played very well in 2017, and a Bryant-and-Bryant duo could give him plenty of weapons as the Cowboys attempt a second-half surge.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks generally don't seem to care about "character issues" or other coded terms used to denigrate players. Winning is paramount, and Martavis Bryant would be a good fit in the NFL's most liberal locker room.
Doug Baldwin is a jack of all trades, and like Bryant, Paul Richardson and Tyler Lockett serve as downfield threats - only they're smaller and far less consistent than the Steelers wideout. The Seahawks are hell-bent on winning a Super Bowl while most of their core players are entering the latter stages of their peaks, and Bryant could accelerate Seattle's championship push. Imagine Bryant seeking vengeance against the Steelers in the Super Bowl. It's an enticing prospect for both parties.
