Antonio Brown becomes highest-paid WR in NFL after new deal with Steelers
By Ross O'Keefe
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed Antonio Brown to a four-year extension worth $68 million which will make him the NFL’s highest paid wide receiver.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed wide receiver Antonio Brown to a contract that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, just after hitting running back Le’Veon Bell with the franchise tag. This is a move that was expected for a while, and is well deserved. What wasn’t known was exactly how much the Steelers were paying Brown.
Steelers and Antonio Brown have reached agreement on deal to make him highest paid WR in NFL, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2017
They clearly value Brown heavily and this contract is well deserved for the former 6th-round pick. Brown should be paid as much as he produces, and he has produced a ton the past few years. He consistently finishes in the top-five in catches and receiving yards, so a deal to match his production was earned. Brown should be able to further his Pro Bowl career with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Related Story: Le’Veon Bell gets the franchise tag from Pittsburgh Steelers
This has been a very busy day for the Steelers, and likely a happy one as well, as they will be able to keep together the triplets for at least one more year. They’ll likely take a look at locking up Bell next, and keep the Steelers an offensive powerhouse for years to come.
The only thing missing for Brown is something everyone who plays for the organization covets, that being a Super Bowl ring. Brown and the Steelers have not been back to the Super Bowl since his rookie year, and they were unsuccessful in that venture against the Green Bay Packers. But this deal should help achieve that goal with a top-tier wide receiver like Brown remaining with the Steelers.
This deal will likely set the bar for elite wide receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and others for years to come.