Many great careers end with a whimper as All-Pros backslide into backups. Some end with the star at or near the top of his game. But never before has a great career ended with the player removing his jersey in the middle of a game and exiting the sport forever. Maybe Antonio Brown will be the first. Or maybe he’s not finished yet. If a team wants to take a chance on him, what are some of his most intriguing landing spots? We’ll explore three free agency predictions for Brown.
Predictions for Antonio Brown in 2022 NFL free agency
How good is AB? When healthy and active last season, he frequently served as Tom Brady’s No. 1 target. In about 6.5 contests, he compiled a 42-545-4 receiving line with a 68% catch rate. On a per-game basis, he had more catches and yards than Mike Evans and more yards and touchdowns than Chris Godwin.
If he finds a new home in another crowded receiver corps, as long as he’s starting, he should be able to carve out a weekly role. And on a team bereft of wideout talent, he could still serve as the No. 1 receiver.
Yes, as strange as it sounds, Brown might have many productive years remaining. He didn’t look 33 years old last season, though it’s worth noting he hasn’t played more than half a season since 2018. So, we don’t know if a full campaign — and the drama that comes with rostering AB — will eventually take its toll on him and his new team.
For now, there are plenty of squads desperate for a near-elite playmaker with commitment issues. Here are three that could take a chance.
Green Bay Packers
Why not? With Davante Adams gone, the newly re-signed Aaron Rodgers will throw to Allen Lazard, Amari Rodgers, and perhaps Marquez Valdes-Scantling. This can’t be the way Rodgers’ career ends. If they want to compete against the Bucs and other NFC title contenders — not to mention the robust AFC — Rodgers will need help.
They could try to sign Brown on a one-year deal with incentives. If his market isn’t strong, knowing he’d get to play on a potentially great team with a Hall of Fame quarterback could be enough to lure him. Whether it’s enough to keep him happy is another question. But in Green Bay, he’d slot in as Rodgers’ top option from the get-go.
Arizona Cardinals
Pairing Brown with DeAndre Hopkins would be fascinating. It could also collapse under the weight of two great talents who aren’t as dominant as they once were, playing on a team with a disgruntled young quarterback.
Arizona probably can’t compete with the best teams if Rondale Moore is their No. 2 receiver. Maybe that’s not fair to say; we haven’t seen enough of Moore. But Hopkins will be 30 this summer, and Zach Ertz will turn 32 in October. This is a bit of a win-now situation, especially after the team retained the 27-year-old RB James Conner, whose mileage and durability issues make him a long shot to make good on his favorable contract. Brown could elevate this passing game tremendously.
New England Patriots
Last October, the Patriots faced the Bucs. After Tampa Bay won, AB and New England head coach Bill Belichick praised each other on the field, with Belichick telling him how good he is and AB telling him how much he respects him. The two shook hands.
Yes, we could chalk it up to sportsmanship. And we might assume Belichick doesn’t want to try the AB experiment again. But this team needs more than Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, and an array of tertiary receiving options in 2022. If they’re willing to make this marriage work, Brown could immediately take Mac Jones’ game to another level.