Antonio Brown's unclear future as it relates to a possible NFL suspension may not stop a team from signing him at some point during the 2020 season -- or at least it's beginning to appear that way. The Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens have had internal discussions about signing the former All-Pro receiver, NFL Network's Michael Silver reported on Tuesday. Brown, who recently served a two-year probation after pleading no contest in his moving truck driver battery case, is still under investigation by the NFL following his inclusion in a 2019 civil suit from a woman accusing him of sexual misconduct and rape.
"Antonio Brown last year was a fiasco, and because of off-the-field issues, maybe facing a suspension of about half a season," Silver said. "But he's an exceptional talent. He's been reasonably quiet on social media lately. So teams are sniffing around. I would keep an eye on the Seattle Seahawks. Antonio Brown's been doing some offseason workouts with their backup quarterback, Geno Smith. They are absolutely interested in having him potentially as a late-season edition, assuming there is a suspension.
"And the Baltimore Ravens ... his cousin, Marquise Brown, is on that team. They have sniffed around in the past. They are mulling that over too. So internal discussions in both of those organizations. Keep an eye on Seattle and Baltimore."
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, during a recent interview with Adam Schein on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Sports Radio, did not rule out the possibility of signing Brown, who did plenty of damage against the Ravens during his nine-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown's younger cousin, Marquise Brown, caught seven touchdown passes during his first season with the Ravens in 2019. Baltimore quarterback and reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson recently expressed support as it relates to possibly having Brown as a teammate.
"I'd be happy if they signed him," Jackson said of Brown. "He's a great player. He showed it each and every year when he was with the Steelers in the past, but it's not my decision."
That said, ESPN's Josina Anderson has since reported the Ravens are an unlikely destination, saying Wednesday his name "has not been earnestly discussed (pending review of his case), nor (have) there been any recent talks internally" about his potential addition.
Last month, ESPN Radio's John Clayton reported that Brown or former Seahawks receiver Josh Gordon could be on Seattle's radar. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who put up an MVP caliber season in 2019, "would love" for the team to pursue Brown, according to Clayton.
As far as receivers are concerned, the Seahawks' Week 1 depth chart consists of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Phillip Dorsett along with rookies Freddie Swain and Colby Parkinson. While this is by no means a bad group, the Seahawks' passing attack would certainly benefit by having Brown, who led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions from 2013-18.
Brown, who will turn 32 years old on July 10, appears confident that he will be on an NFL roster sometime in the near future. Earlier this month, Brown hinted on his Instagram page that he will find his next NFL home sometime soon. In the meantime, Brown has continued to train in Florida, where he recently worked with Hall of Fame defensive back, Deion Sanders.
After nine extremely productive seasons in Pittsburgh, Brown requested and received a trade last offseason that led him to end up on the Raiders in exchange for third and fifth-round picks. Brown's time in Oakland was mired in controversy that included a reported on-field altercation with Raiders general manager Mike Mayock. Shortly after that incident, Brown was released, and he quickly signed with the Patriots. Brown caught four of eight targets for 56 yards and a touchdown during his only active game during the 2019 season.