Seahawks Interested In Signing WR Antonio Brown

• Seahawks reportedly interested in signing WR Antonio Brown once his suspension ends in Week 8
• Ravens looking at adding ex-Cowboys WR Dez Bryant
• Ravens (+600), Seahawks (+750) both listed among odds-on favorites to win Super Bowl 55

According to NFL insiders, a couple of veteran wide receivers may soon be finding new homes. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Wednesday that former Steelers, Raiders, and Patriots wideout Antonio Brown is drawing interest from the Seattle Seahawks.

Brown’s NFL-mandated suspension is set to expire after Week 8. After that, he will reportedly be free to sign with any team that wants him. Schefter says the Seahawks have shown interest in offering Brown a contract once the suspension does conclude, though no official deal is in place as of yet.

Wilson, Smith Lobbying for Brown

Schefter says that the Seattle Seahawks‘ quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Geno Smith are both close friends with Brown and have been pushing the team’s brass to make the move. The Seahawks are reportedly interested in seeing what Brown can do as a part of a receiving corps that already features big-play threats in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

With Antonio Brown’s suspension eligible to end after week 8, the Seattle Seahawks are now positioned to make a push to sign him, though they’re not alone, league sources tell ESPN. Other teams also are interested. pic.twitter.com/ykn1NJ6LUm

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2020

The Seahawks may not be the only team interested in taking a shot on the former All-Pro, however. Brown has not yet staged any contract discussions with the Seahawks, which certainly leaves open the possibility that he lands elsewhere. More and more teams have reportedly been expressing interest in Brown in recent days, and a few are ready to make a contract offer if and when he becomes eligible to return to the field.

Head coach Pete Carroll was rather coy when asked about the possibility of adding Brown, suggesting that the Seahawks have:

“Endeavored to be in on everything that’s going on” and that the team’s GM, John Schneider, “has done a marvelous job of always being tuned into what’s happening, and this is no exception.”

Brown’s Dicey Past

It’s been a rocky couple of years for Brown. The veteran was traded from the Steelers to the Raiders prior to last season after having a falling-out with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He wound up never playing a down for the Raiders, however, after having issues with head coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock during the preseason. The Raiders wound up releasing Brown before the season even began.

Brown quickly latched on with the New England Patriots, and he caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in Week 2 of last year. However, he was released the following week after sexual misconduct allegations came to light. Brown has not signed with another team since.

The league has been investigating the allegations, which were made by an artist that worked at Brown’s home back in 2017. Brown also previously pleaded no contest to a felony burglary charge stemming from an incident with a moving truck at his home in Florida earlier this year.

In July, the league suspended Brown for eight games without pay for a variety of violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Since he hasn’t been on a roster, though, Brown has been able to serve the suspension without actually missing out on any salary. The league is also investigating allegations of sexual misconduct made by one of Brown’s former trainers. Brown could be suspended again if the NFL finds any wrongdoing.

The Seahawks are also waiting on the potential return of Josh Gordon, who is currently on the NFL’s reserve/suspended list. Gordon could be reinstated by the league at some point this season after repeated violations of the NFL’s anti-drug policy.

Ravens to Sign Bryant?

On Thursday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler Dez Bryant is on the verge of joining the Baltimore Ravens. Rapoport says the Ravens are interested in signing Bryant to their practice squad if he looks good during an upcoming workout and passes a physical.

Bryant hasn’t played in an NFL game since being released by the Cowboys in 2017. He briefly signed with the New Orleans Saints before rupturing his Achilles in his first practice with the team.

Bryant reportedly received and turned down a multi-year contract offer from Baltimore three years ago, but he instead decided to ink a one-year deal with New Orleans. Bryant still has a long way to go before he actually suits up for the Ravens, and it remains to be seen what he’s capable of contributing after being out of the league for so long.

Teaming up with reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson can’t be a bad thing for Bryant, but he’ll be fairly low in the pecking order if he does eventually crack the 53-man roster. Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews are entrenched as Jackson’s top targets in the Ravens’ passing attack.

Earlier on Thursday, the Ravens acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. Baltimore sent a third- and fifth-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for the former Jaguar.