Steelers restructure deal for Antonio Brown

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is getting a raise for the 2016 season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Steelers moved $4 million from next year to Brown’s salary this year to restructure his contract.

Brown’s contract expires after next season, and though the star receiver said he was never going to hold out, at the beginning of training camp he hoped to get either a new contract or a restructuring that would pay him more, sooner.

The Steelers and Brown just completed a contract restructure. Brown is widely considered to be the best wide receiver in football, but he has yet to cash in on a big contract like Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, A.J. Green and Julio Jones have.

Brown ranked second among receivers in yards a season ago, and is widely regarded among the best pass catchers in the NFL. Pittsburgh invested in him for a reason, he is a talented and experienced wide out.

In the Steelers upcoming season, Brown could end up being a crucial contributor once again.

The Steelers trimmed their preseason roster to the required 75 players Tuesday and play the defending NFC Champion Carolina Panthers on the road Thursday. As a result, he will earn $10.25 million as his base salary this season.

Next to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Brown is the most important part of Pittsburgh’s offense.

General manager Kevin Colbert, asked several times this year about Brown’s request for a new deal, has always pointed to the team’s policy of not extending contracts of players who still have two years left on their current deals, as does Brown. Now, Brown can get to work without contract talks on his mind.

There’s little question Brown is worth it. If he keeps producing and stays healthy, he’s unlikely to play under that figure.

According to Schefter, the Steelers are promising to give Brown a true extension after the 2016 season.