Let Bryant Go
The saga of Martavis Bryant’s NFL career has been amazing and frustrating all in one short bundle. Bryant came into the league seen as a project with immense potential. The Steelers jumped at that potential in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. That season he burst onto the season as Ben Roethlisberger’s deep threat and red zone target. He reeled in 26 catches for 526 yards and 8 touchdowns. Everyone saw his potential in the Steelers offense and was excited to see what would come.
In 2015 he caught 50 passes for 765 yards and 6 touchdowns but started to get some flack for being lazy and not committing to the team. First he started the season by being suspended for four games for violating the illegal substance policy. He then disappeared down the stretch through the playoffs and drew criticism from Big Ben who told him to man up and commit to the team.
Bryant responded by getting suspended for the entire 2016 campaign for the violating the same policy he had the year before. Fans began to see Josh Gordon’s twin brother emerging as he sat the year out. However, he fought and stayed in shape and came in to this season with a fire in his belly to prove everyone wrong. That has not translated to the field though, as his snaps have diminished to the rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster who has began to out-snap him in games.
Bryant saw this coming when the Steelers drafted him this offseason as he reacted after the draft with a tweet that was less than welcoming. Now he has demanded a trade and has openly complained about his situation, stating “All they have to do is give me what I want and they will see”. The Steelers reacted by putting Bryant on the scout team and saying he will be inactive for the next game.
The Steelers need to trade Bryant to get what they can out of him. They have come out publicly saying he is not available, but they already have his replacement and can get more from trading him than he is giving them now. A prime landing spot is with the Chicago Bears who need a number one receiver for rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Steelers could get a third or maybe second rounder in return. They could also get some quality players in return as the Bears are deep in the secondary and in the pass rush.
They could also look to trade Bryant to the Giants who are missing three of their top receivers to injury. He would immediately help Eli Manning get on track and could be the piece that leads them back to the playoffs. Eli needs a big and fast target to take the top off defenses and take pressure off the running game. Bryant provides that in spades. The Steelers could get some quality draft capital or a solid defensive player as the Giants have a deep and dangerous defense.
No matter who the partner is, the Giants need to find a trade partner. Bryant has become a distraction and ultimately will not perform for this team. They already have replaced him with an equally talented receiver and can afford to spare him. This move would remove a thorn from their side and make Bryant happy. It is a win for all sides.
