Martavis Bryant Traded by Steelers to Raiders for 3rd-Round 2018 NFL Draft Pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended Martavis Bryant's turbulent tenure in Western Pennsylvania on Thursday when they agreed to trade the enigmatic wide receiver to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick, No. 79 overall, in the 2018 draft. 

Bryant arrived in the Steel City as a 2014 fourth-round draft pick, and he immediately flashed big potential as a No. 2 threat alongside Antonio Brown.

In 10 appearances as a rookie, the towering 6'4" speedster nabbed 26 receptions for 549 yards and eight touchdowns, good for an average of 21.1 yards per catch.

The Clemson product continued to offer glimpses of his tantalizing talent in 2015 when he hauled in a career-high 50 receptions for 765 yards and six scores.

However, the 2015 season was accompanied by turmoil when Bryant received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on substance abuse. Those off-field issues carried over into 2016, when Bryant violated the policy yet again and was suspended for the entire campaign.

Bryant was reinstated prior to the 2017 season, but his displeasure in a seemingly reduced role fueled his public desire to fly the coop.

The Steelers ultimately held steady at the trade deadline and opted against placating that demand. As a result, Bryant became progressively more involved in the offense as the year drew to a close. He finished the 2017 season with 50 catches for 603 yards and three touchdowns.

Now headed to the Raiders, Bryant will need to show he's not an off-field liability or a detrimental presence in the locker room as he attempts to provide some stability opposite No. 1 Amari Cooper and No. 2 Jordy Nelson. 

If Bryant can do that to the best of his abilities, he could be in line for a solid payday come March 2019 when he becomes an unrestricted free agent for the first time.