Dec 10, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant (10) returns a kick-off against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Anthony Levine (41) during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 39-38. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It was expected last October that the Pittsburgh Steelers would trade wide receiver Martavis Bryant in-season. There were even reports at the time that Bryant requested a trade. A week after those reports, Bryant took to Instagram to tell people that he was better than rookie teammate Juju Smith-Schuster.

Well, Bryant remained with the Steelers for the full 2017 season, but was finally traded during Thursday’s NFL Draft to Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick (75th overall).

Bryant was suspended for the entire 2016 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. But when there’s no doubting his talent, and he’s still just 26 years old.

Bryant has the size — 6’5″, 200 pounds — that teams crave for big-play and red-zone weapons at the receiver position. In 36 career NFL games, Bryant has 126 receptions for 1,917 yards (15.7 yards per reception) and 17 touchdowns.

The Clemson product joins Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson in a big-name Raiders wide receiving corps for quarterback Derek Carr to throw to.

As for the Steelers, getting the 75th overall pick back for Bryant is a pretty great return.

Bryant will get the chance to face his former team when the Steelers go to Oakland in Week 14 of the 2018 NFL season.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.