The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the most active teams at the trade deadline, swinging three trades to address their defensive concerns. While Eagles fans will certainly feel good about general manager Howie Roseman's aggressiveness to upgrade the roster, they were anxiously awaiting what would happen with wide receiver A.J. Brown. The rumors surrounding the star wide receiver were not subsiding until the last hour of the trade deadline, but the Eagles held onto their elite pass-catcher.
After the deadline, Roseman was naturally asked about his decision to keep Brown. ESPN's Tim McManus reported on the video conference the Eagles GM held with reporters, highlighting how the team never really entertained the idea of trading Brown.
"I think that when you're trying to be a great team, it's hard to trade great players, and A.J. Brown is a great player," Roseman said, adding that the star playmaker "wears a 'C' for a reason".
Howie Roseman Puts Pressure on AJ Brown After Trade Deadline
Perhaps the most fascinating part of his remarks was when he said, "He's an important part of this team, of this organization. He cares about winning, he cares about his teammates." One could easily interpret this as meaningless GM speak. It could very well be the case that the Eagles explored deals but couldn't find one that made sense.
Even if that were the case, it's important that Roseman referred to Brown as someone who cares about winning and his teammates. The 28-year-old has been criticized during his Eagles tenure, especially this season, for causing locker room drama and tension. He has complained about his lack of involvement in the passing game and the overall offensive process. He has been vocal about his frustrations, which were a big reason for the trade speculations to begin with.
By calling Brown a team player who cares about winning, Roseman puts the pressure on the star WR to lead by example. He also sets clear expectations about what he wants from him in the second half of the season.
Trading Brown would have been understandable, but it would have been a risky decision for the front office. If the offense continued to struggle in the second half of the season without Brown, Roseman would have been under fire.
Now, if Brown continues to cause a stir in the locker room, he will draw the ire of the fanbase. The organization has demonstrated its trust in the veteran pass-catcher, and now he has to return the favor. If he can't hit another level for the rest of the season and the Eagles disappoint, he could be the scapegoat in Philadelphia.
How Brown will do with this added pressure in the second half of the 2025 campaign will be fascinating to watch.