Steelers Sign Wide Receiver To Replace Antonio Brown

PITTSBURGH, PA - Mere hours after Antonio Brown was introduced as an Oakland Raider, the Steelers signed a free agent who seems likely to take his place as a starting wide receiver. Donte Moncrief, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, agreed to a two-year deal.

“We are excited to sign Donte Moncrief to a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers,” General Manager Kevin Colbert said. “We feel he is a great addition to our wide receiver group and we look forward to his contributions to our offense in 2019.”

Moncrief’s numbers with the Jaguars in 2018 do not favorably compare to Brown’s statistics in his final Steelers season. Moncrief has 48 reception for 668 yards and three touchdowns; Brown had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns.

But there’s reason to believe Moncrief can improve his stats with the Steelers. He had Blake Bortles, one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks last season, throwing to him. In Pittsburgh, he’ll have future Hall-of-Famer Ben Roethlisberger.

Moncrief is expected to be the Steelers’ number two receiver behind JuJu Smith-Schuster.

“Donte Moncrief won't adequately replace Antonio Brown (not many can),” EPSN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted in response to the signing. “But (he) gets (a) chance to re-establish himself after struggles in Jacksonville. Moncrief has size, speed and 3 TDs in five career games versus Pittsburgh.”

Last season was Moncrief’s only one in Jacksonville. He signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars after spending the previous four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

For his five-year career, Moncrief has 200 receptions for 2,543 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The Steelers have not yet formally announced the signing, but Colbert did issue a statement after Brown’s trade to the Raiders became official Wednesday.

“Antonio remains one of the best players in the National Football League, but we believe this move was in the best interests of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” he said. “We wish Antonio all the best the rest of his career.”

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