Future #1

Next year Antonio Brown will be 30 yrs old. Studies show that age 30 is the age when Wide Receivers like Running Backs start to decline.
AB does have an incredible work ethic and great route running so i think his decline will be a lot later than 30 years old.
But, For the sake of the thread, when AB does start to decline who do you see becoming the number 1 receiver? JuJu or Bryant?
I leave Eli Rogers off this because i believe eventually AB might move to Slot to continue his career when he is on the downside, therefore rendering Eli out of this because i believe Eli can only be a slot receiver.
Thoughts?

 

Kind of a difficult thing to answer. Marvin Harrison played until he was 36, a Pro Bowler until age 34. We don't even know who's going to be on the team at that point. A little early to debate imo.

 

I don't think AB's replacement is on the roster at this point - MB is more Randy Moss-like and will always be the post/fly receiver and not necessarily the over the middle tough in coverage receiver. JuJu is more Hines Ward-like (hopefully) with toughness over the middle. Not saying the Steelers wouldn't do well if MB and JuJu excel at their strengths and abilities but neither are AB-like - in actuality, who is?

 

With Ben retiring in the next 1-3 years, I see AB, Eli, & JuJu being the mainstay of the passing game. We need a top notch TE safety valve moving forward.

Continued focus on a strong O-line and getting that top 5 swarming D will be more important than ever while another QB is being groomed.

I'd have to answer JuJu and a TE that's not on the roster.

 

Let's cross that bridge when we get to it.

 

One of the things that makes AB so great is his route running, attention to detail, and his ability to make contested grabs. Those things age really well. He doesn't rely solely on speed or anything like that. I don't think he sees a drastic downturn in production in his early 30s. Eventually he will slow down and be more of a slot guy, but he definitely has 2-3 more years after this one to be at the top of his game.

 

AB's game actually translates well to aging. Realistically, he'll be a dominant receiver until he's 32-33 if he's not injury prone. The fact that he's not a speed-first guy works in our favor and probably part of why he got the long contract.

But for me, as you can see by my avatar, I think Bryant is the generation. Dude is LEGIT.

He's athletic, strong, fast and almost impossible to cover when he times his routes perfect. We also put time, reputation and resources into the guy so I don't think he'd up and leave for the money.

Nonetheless, we're blessed. lol

 

Right, Can't we just win the super bowl first

 

If I had to pick i would pick JuJu. Obviously he has a lot to learn, but I don't know if he could ever be a deep threat. I think you have to be a good at every aspect of receiving to be a number 1.

 

eli is getting better every year to me. i think he has very good hands. juju brings some toughness but this kid is just 20 years old, he's got a lot of future to show us that hasn't been realized yet. hunter hasn't played but i think this year with mann will still improve him too. tucker has looked good to so far and could take that next step at some point.

 

I've been saying it for a while. Bryant is worth the risk and should get a 2nd contract with the Steelers. When this guy gets into game shape... the sky is the limit. I still don't think he's quite acclimated to the game yet after taking a year off. It will take a few games.

 

So they just gave AB all that money for 1 year and to completely fall off next year?

 

i agree we need to get him that second contract, sooner rather than later. stay clean and be a star is all he needs to do.

 

Jerry Rice is 54, and I'm convinced that guy could still run routes today. He keeps himself in amazing shape. I watched the Football Life episode on that guy, utterly insane his workouts were and still are.

Deep down I think AB strives to be like him. Jerry Rice even says that AB reminds him of himself with his work ethic.

Barring a major slew of injuries. AB could play into his late 30's. I have no doubt he will finish his current contract which goes through the 2021 season. I think he will finish that contract. After that point will he still be a Steeler? Maybe not. But don't forget Jerry Rice was with 3 teams after he left the 49ers.

 

Yep. Bryant has his whole life to smoke weed after football. He can move to Washington state or Colorado and smoke until his heart is content AFTER he is done with the Steelers career.

 

Future #1 should be a stud Free Safety

 

They usually aren't available when drafting at 32.

 

Ye, too early to say. I have a feeling the new #1 after AB isn't even on the team yet. Also, whenever AB is done, so will be Ben by then. We might be back to a Mark Malone/Brister/tomczak/Kordell QB at that point.

 

yup lol.. I really do not expect AB to drop off that much .. He has a fantastic work ethic similar to how Silverback defies age..

 

Yep.


Pass rushers, running backs, cornerbacks, offensive tackles and quarterbacks usually are more considered unless there are extreme circumstances, such as Derwin James and a lesser extent in Jamal Adams.

 

Marvin Harrsion was pretty good until 33 I believe.

 

Well... all of those QBs led the Steelers to the playoffs. Yes, they are no Bradshaw or Roethlisberger, but they were good enough to get their teams to the post season which is a lot more than most of the QBs in their respective time periods.

 

I think we have AB until his contract is up, then comes the time when the market will pay him more than we would. At that time, we can only hope we have already found the next #1 receiver in the draft by then. Seems to me we have done fairly well in that category.