The Philadelphia Eagles have an A.J. Brown problem. The veteran playmaker is not happy in Philadelphia, and he's already shown that he's willing to go on the record to make life uncomfortable if he's not getting involved in the passing game.
Hiring Sean Mannion as the new offensive coordinator might be a step in the right direction, but it may not be enough. Brown doesn't seem to be on the same page with quarterback Jalen Hurts, and it might be just a matter of time before the Eagles have to pull the plug on him.
That said, losing him may not be a catastrophe.
The Eagles have a potential superstar in DeVonta Smith, and he'd probably post better numbers with a team of his own. Considering that, we'll discuss three steps this team could take to help him unleash his full potential.
3 Steps for Eagles to Help DeVonta Smith Break Out
1. Trade A.J. Brown
While trading Brown now doesn't make any financial sense, the Eagles would free $7.47 million with a post-June 1 move, per OverTheCap. Of course, general manager Howie Roseman has been reluctant to entertain this idea, and it's not like they need the cap space, but it's just to say that a move is still pretty much on the table.
NFL fans saw how Jaxon Smith-Njigba went absolutely nuclear once the Seattle Seahawks gave him the keys to the kingdom. The third-year pro paced the league with 1,793 receiving yards in 2025, all while making 119 catches and scoring 10 touchdowns. Cutting ties with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett was a risky move, but it paved the way for JSN to have a career year and break out as the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Smith was the No. 10 pick, a Heisman Trophy winner, and the ultimate playmaker in college. He has shown those flashes in the pros, but he's never going to enter true WR1 territory until he gets WR1-type usage, supporting the idea behind trading Brown.
2. Add a Blocking Tight End
The Eagles' tight end situation may not be a primary concern, but it's still something worth addressing. Dallas Goedert will probably be on his way out, and losing Grant Calcaterra and Kyler Granson won't move the needle much, but they still need to replace him.
The Eagles take pride in dominating in the trenches. As such, adding a hard-hitting, blocking tight end will be a tall order. That will give Hurts more time to move around in the pocket, thus — obviously — favoring the passing game as well. After all, Philadelphia's offensive line allowed the ninth-most QB hurries (53).
According to Pro Football Focus, Hurts was also sacked on 22.9% of pressures, which was sixth-worst among quarterbacks with at least 10 starts.
Hurts isn't the quickest processor, but giving him enough time should help him find Smith, whose acceleration and elite route-running skills allow him to create separation and get open in the blink of an eye.
3. Finding a True WR2 Who Won't Overshadow Smith
Smith has the talent and skills to be a true Batman, but he's settled for being a Robin. If Brown's no longer there, he'll have to embrace a bigger workload and the responsibilities that come with being the primary pass catcher.
As such, the Eagles will be wise to find someone to take some pressure off his shoulders, but who also embraces a secondary role. That's what the Seahawks did with Cooper Kupp and Smith-Njigba, and he came up huge in the playoffs.
The Eagles probably won't be in the mix for the biggest names in free agency, but they might be able to poach someone like Rashid Shaheed, Christian Kirk, or Dyami Brown, or trade for someone like Keon Coleman or Jerry Jeudy.
Either way, adding one of those names could take enough heat off Smith while allowing him to truly thrive as Philadelphia's go-to receiving threat.