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Pros and cons for a 49ers trade for Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown

By Peter Panacy

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a 7 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter during the game against Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers on September 20, 2015 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a 7 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter during the game against Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers on September 20, 2015 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Wide Receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Wide Receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Pros for the 49ers trading for Antonio Brown

Well, production. It’s undeniable:

Antonio Brown Receiving Table
Game Game Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Year Age Tm Pos G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch% Fmb
2010 22 PIT 9 0 19 16 167 10.4 0 26 1.8 18.6 84.2% 1
2011* 23 PIT wr 16 3 124 69 1108 16.1 2 79 4.3 69.3 55.6% 0
2012 24 PIT WR 13 10 106 66 787 11.9 5 60 5.1 60.5 62.3% 4
2013* 25 PIT WR 16 14 167 110 1499 13.6 8 56 6.9 93.7 65.9% 1
2014*+ 26 PIT WR 16 16 181 129 1698 13.2 13 63 8.1 106.1 71.3% 2
2015*+ 27 PIT WR 16 16 193 136 1834 13.5 10 59 8.5 114.6 70.5% 3
2016*+ 28 PIT WR 15 15 154 106 1284 12.1 12 51 7.1 85.6 68.8% 0
2017*+ 29 PIT WR 14 14 163 101 1533 15.2 9 57 7.2 109.5 62.0% 4
2018* 30 PIT WR 15 15 168 104 1297 12.5 15 78 6.9 86.5 61.9% 0
Care Care 130 103 1275 837 11207 13.4 74 79 6.4 86.2 15

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/6/2019.

Brown hasn’t had a down year since 2012. And while one is coming, eventually, the better prognosis is that Brown would continue to produce at a very high level.

Especially when paired with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s innovative offense.

Last year, no San Francisco wide receiver posted more than 500 yards. Second-year pro Kendrick Bourne had the most receiving yards of this group (487), so it isn’t as if a top-quality wideout is off the list of Niners needs this offseason.

Brown is the kind of receiving target opposing defenses have to scheme against, thereby opening things up for other pass catchers while still impacting the stat sheet on a regular basis. Plus, Brown’s presence would massively open up more chances for the 49ers’ No. 1 receiving threat, tight end George Kittle, who’ll be a focal point for opponents’ defenses in 2019.

OK, so why don’t the Niners just use that second-round pick on a top wide receiver, perhaps someone like Georgia’s Riley Ridley?

That’s a fine proposition, sure. But as the most basic of pundits can point out, NFL Draft prospects are always unproven until, well… they are proven. Brown has already proven his offensive worth, and then some. Even if he endures something of a down year in a San Francisco uniform, his presence on the field would be enough to command defenses’ respect.