Oakland Raiders fans haven't had much to cheer of late. The franchise's lone playoff appearance since 2002, in 2016, didn't produce a victory. Team icon Jon Gruden returned to the fold last season, only to trade a pair of marquee players and finish his second debut 4-12. Bigger picture, the Raiders are still moving to Las Vegas, even though there's been an unexpected single-season reprieve for their move from Oakland.
It's easy to forgive Raiders Nation for perhaps getting overly excited about the acquisition of Antonio Brown. On the other hand, it's not every day one of the most productive receivers in NFL history gets traded before his prime is finished, either, as one giddy fan made clear while meeting Brown outside the team's facility on Wednesday.
The Nation's mood waking up after Day One….
Let's keep it rolling into Day Two. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/lLwtvXFo6p
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) March 14, 2019
Over the weekend, the Raiders agreed to trade third and fifth-round picks in the upcoming NFL draft to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Brown. Oakland subsequently signed him to a three-year, $50 million contract that includes $30 million in guarantees.
The addition of Brown is hardly the only splash the Raiders will make before next season, either. The team has already brought in other impact players in wide receiver Tyrell Williams and offensive tackle Trent Brown and has a whopping three first-round picks in the upcoming NFL draft, including the No. 4 overall selection.
Will Oakland fans be this happy come April 25th? That remains to be seen, but it's safe to say the joy of watching Brown run defenses ragged in silver and block will persist next season regardless.
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