KC Chiefs: Four AFC West players who could regress in 2019

Antonio Brown

Likely the biggest trade of the offseason sent star receiver, Antonio Brown, to the Oakland Raiders from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh was able to shed the drama and Oakland has high hopes that Brown will help them to no longer be one of the doormats of the league. Unfortunately for the Raiders, it may not go as planned.

Brown has put up six-straight 1,000+ yard receiving seasons, with some of those seasons exceeding 1,500 yards. He has also caught ten or more touchdowns in four out of the last five seasons. Impressive to say the least. But who was his quarterback?

Since entering the league in 2010, Brown has had future Hall of Famer, Ben Roethlisberger, throwing the ball to him. Even though Roethlisberger has missed some games during that stretch, he has still clearly helped to elevate Brown’s career. While the Raiders’ Derek Carr is a decent quarterback, he’s no Big Ben.

It will take time for Carr and Brown to build the chemistry that Roethlisberger and Brown have spent the last nine seasons building. Also, Brown will turn 31 years old before the 2019 season begins, which limits the ability to create that chemistry with Carr later in his career. There’s also the drama factor.

Brown has had issues with multiple former teammates and that may set the precedent for building trust in the Raiders locker room. Another big factor is that a change in teams altogether will require an adjustment period.

At his age, a change in the caliber of quarterback and changes with a new team and coaches, Brown could be set up for a year of major regression in 2019.