Antonio Brown will be traded sometime this offseason, preferably before March 17, when the Steelers would be forced to pay him a $2.5 million roster bonus if he is still employed by the team. On Friday night, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans are the teams that are most interested in Brown, who requested a trade earlier this offseason.

Schefter added that the Steelers have scaled back their trade request for Brown. Initially, Pittsburgh was asking for a first round pick "and other compensation" but have since begun asking for simply a first round pick as their goals are "more realistic". Oakland has the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, while Washington has the 15th overall pick. Tennessee has the 19th overall pick in the draft.

While the Steelers would like to trade him to a team that they won't be facing anytime soon, Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert told reporters earlier this week that no team has been ruled out with regard to a possible trade for Brown, who led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions last season.

"Ideally you want to trade him to somebody you will never play, which you can’t know," Colbert said. "The less you would have to play against him the better, but if a team comes through with the best compensation we have to balance that out. OK, we have to play him twice a year but we are going to get the best compensation, so then it’s our job to do the better job with the compensation. You have to weigh all that into the discussions. We haven’t eliminated anybody."

The Steelers could certainly use a first round pick in exchange for Brown. Pittsburgh, who currently has seven picks in this year's draft that includes the 20th and 52nd overall picks, could use another first round pick to help address the team's biggest positions of need: wide receiver (assuming Brown is traded), cornerback and inside linebacker. If Pittsburgh does receive a first round pick in exchange for Brown, the Steelers could draft a player at each of those positions in the first two rounds of the draft. The Steelers are also expected to draft an outside linebacker, safety and running back in later rounds. Pittsburgh is also expected to add depth to the tight end position after Colbert said the team will allow backup Jesse James to test free agency later this month.

Along with trying to trade him, the Steelers are also trying to find Brown replacement's at the Combine. Pittsburgh spoke to several receivers on Friday that included Brown's cousin, Oklahoma State receiver Marquise Brown. The Steelers also met with receivers A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, Riley Ridley and D.K. Metcalf.

In 2017, Brown signed a four-year, $68 million extension with the team that will keep him with the Steelers through the 2021 season. In 2018, he caught 104 passes for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns in 15 games. His season ended in turmoil, however, as Brown was held out of Pittsburgh's regular season finale after skipping the team's Saturday walkthrough. Brown and the Steelers mutually decided to pursue a trade for the team's second all-time leading receiver late last month.