Throughout the past few weeks there have been reports, and rumors, of NFL teams putting in calls to the Pittsburgh Steelers regarding wide receiver Martavis Bryant.
Websites like this one, and some national media outlets, piggy backed on the reports and the rumors started swirling. Not just how the Steelers were fielding phone calls, but were actually listening, and considering, trade options for Bryant.
To an extent, can you blame them? This after Bryant publicly stated he wanted to leave and his actions off the field resulted in a one-game suspension by Mike Tomlin before the team’s bye week.
Nonetheless, at the end of the season Bryant was signing a different tune. He was excited to come back and stated he didn’t want traded, as he once said.
When the dust settled, and the team now preparing for the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, Kevin Colbert spoke to Dale Lolley and Gerry Dulac on Steelers Nation radio and said the team is not interested in trading Bryant to anyone this offseason.
Kevin Colbert just said the #Steelers are not interested in trading Martavis Bryant and have not called anyone. Said they have gotten calls but have said they aren't interested in trading him.
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) February 28, 2018
The constant in this Bryant possible trade scenario is how the Steelers likely would never feel the compensation would be worth the trade. With Bryant being just one bad drug test away from being indefinitely suspended from the NFL, his ceiling and the Steelers’ value placed on him wouldn’t likely match that of a trade partner.
Either way, Bryant will be back next season, and if he can pick up where he left off at the end of 2017, the Steelers offense could be prepared for takeoff — finally.