The Philadelphia Eagles are defending Super Bowl champions but they have the chemistry of a high school science fair project. While the Eagles were able to work their way to the title by winning 16 of their final 17 games, they had their share of turbulence including grumblings from star wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Winning a title couldn’t keep Brown from demanding more targets and he raised eyebrows when he showed off a New England Patriots jersey emblazoned with his No. 11 last week. While it turned out to be a signed Julian Edelman jersey, Edelman responded by giving him permission to wear his number if he was traded to New England and fanned the flames one week before the draft.
The situation had everyone on edge but it appears to be put to rest just in time for the Eagles to concentrate on this year’s draft.
NFL Insider Shoots Down A.J. Brown Trade Rumors
ESPN’s Adam Schefter released a notebook with his intel heading into this week’s draft and quickly shot down the Brown trade rumors.
“Contrarty ot internet speculation, the Eagles are not trading A.J. Brown,” Schefter wrote. “The star wide receiver signed a three-year extension a year ago this week.”
The key point Schefter makes is Brown’s contract, which should have nuked any trade rumors to begin with. Brown’s current contract runs through the 2029 season and Philadelphia would be eating a $42.2 million cap hit if they traded him before June 1. While the Eagles could save $1.17 million by trading Brown after June 1, it’s not worth it for a receiver that is still productive as he enters his age-28 season.
Brown’s 97 targets last season were his lowest since he had 84 targets with the Tennessee Titans in 2019 but he still managed 67 catches for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns despite missing four games with a hamstring injury.
Even as he was caught reading the book Inner Excellence on the sideline during the Eagles’ playoff win over the Green Bay Packers, Brown found a way to contribute in the playoffs. He caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game and caught three passes for 43 yards in a touchdown in the 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
With DeVonta Smith also locked into a three-year, $75 million extension that runs through 2028, the Eagles’ top two targets aren’t going anywhere in the near future, allowing Howie Roseman to build around them in the upcoming draft.