The Eagles’ top two wide receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, are frustrated with their role in Philadelphia’s offense, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required). While confirming Brown’s frustrations, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report that the team has no intention of trading the three-time Pro Bowler (which echoes Russini’s report from last month, in which she noted that Philadelphia shot down offseason trade inquiries into Brown).
Though the defending Super Bowl champions are off to a 4-0 start, Rapoport and Garafolo say that promising record has been “highly scrutinized” due to the nature of the club’s offense (the Eagles rank 30th in yards per game, though they are seventh in points per game). As a league source told Russini, “[r]ight now, for the Eagles, it’s run, run, run, (Jalen) Hurts off-schedule pass, tush push. For their receivers, that means when they get to the red zone, they aren’t getting the ball — and they know it. Hence the frustrations.”
While Smith has remained quiet, Brown has been more open about his dissatisfaction. Shortly after the team’s Week 4 victory over the Bucs, he posted the following scripture to his X account: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way” (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook).
During a media session on Wednesday, Brown offered clarity on the post.
“First off, I want to start off by saying, obviously, Sunday after the game I let my frustrations boil over,” he said (via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “I didn’t speak to the media. I had a chance to correct my frustrations and I continued to let it boil over and that’s on me. I take full accountability on that.”
He went on to say that the message was not directed at anyone in particular, including his general manager, head coach, or quarterback. However, he also added, “I don’t think it’s a bad thing for wanting the ball.”
As a rival head coach told Russini, Brown is likely not frustrated by the number of targets he has received (28 through four games), but rather the type of targets and the situation they come in.
Brown seemed to confirm as much on Wednesday, saying, “[i]t’s not just for targets or anything, to put numbers up, no. I see that we’re struggling, and I’m a guy that wants the ball in those times when we can’t find a way. Give it to me. When the game’s on the line, give the ball to me.”
That is what happened when the Eagles were trailing 26-7 in their comeback win over the Rams. As Philadelphia fought its way back into the game, Hurts threw contested balls to Brown that resulted in completions, and Brown ended the game with six catches for 109 yards and a score. In the team’s other three contests combined, the Ole Miss product has tallied eight receptions for 42 scoreless yards.
Of course, the Eagles have a new offensive coordinator in Kevin Patullo, and Brown missed a significant portion of training camp due to a hamstring injury. The Rapoport/Garafolo duo thinks Hurts will try to get Brown the ball early and often in the Eagles’ Week 5 bout against the Broncos, and Russini likewise believes Patullo could try to script plays for both Brown and Smith early in games. She also says GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni have had private conversations with Brown in an effort to manage the situation.
Obviously, a happy and productive tandem at the top of their WR depth chart will go a long way towards the Eagles’ efforts to repeat. That is why the team does not plan to entertain trade inquiries on Brown (the same may be true of Smith, though Rapoport and Garafolo do not mention him in their report).
If the team did consider moving Brown, sources tell Rapoport and Garafolo he could fetch a monster package similar to the one the Cowboys recently landed for star edge rusher Micah Parsons. And Russini reports rival executives are monitoring the situation, believing Roseman could change his stance.
“They are paying roughly $50 million to two wide receivers (Brown and Smith), and they aren’t even that involved,” one GM told Russini. “They may move on simply because Philly is a run-heavy team.”
For his part, Brown says he does not want to leave Philly.
“This is my home, you know? I did it to myself,” he said. “But this is my home, man. I love it here. But you just see frustration because obviously we want to be great and most definitely I want to be great, as well.”
As the rival GM referenced above noted, both Brown and Smith are on high-end contracts. Brown is under club control through 2029, while Smith’s current deal expires after the 2028 season.
All things that are not shocking.
The thought of Brown being traded for a package similar to Parsons was pretty shocking to me. I just dont see it.
While I think the Titans made a
mistake when they traded him, he was already doing this whining routine. Nobody is gonna get a Parson’s level return for a malcontent.
Apparently winning doesn’t solve *everything*
Doesn’t say they won’t trade Smith so Pats get on the phone make this deal happen
I wonder how he feels after they said we won’t trade Brown but nothing about him
For fans of any team that has a need at wr; the AJ trade stuff isn’t real. It was invented in the offseason by knucklehead talk radio doing what it does.
When a new coach or GM is hired, they call every team and shoot the breeze bc these people all network with each other. Vrabel gets hired in NE and also coached AJ before. The Eagles turn came up from the rolodex and a routine meaningless call came amid the same meaningless calls to every other team as routine.
Talk radio then did what talk radio does and national media is now doing what national media does. That’s all this is. I’d just hate to see fans do threads of mock trades that they’re unaware happen to be roll your eyes at baloney.
Trade Devonta to the Steelers, Trade Brown to the Broncos lol
I don’t blame them for being frustrated. The play calling has been horrible. That being said I will repeat what I’ve continued to say the entire time we’ve been in the aj brown business. AJ is clearly the more talented receiver but between the two of them I’d rather keep Smith if it comes to it
IMO, the media is pushing this as if it is breaking apart the locker room and/or creating a displeasure between Brown (and apparently Smith) and the coaching staff. In the present moment though, I don’t think it’s as disruptive as it feels like it’s beginning to be pushed.
Brown is so good after the catch that he absolutely should have some plays designed for him that simply get the ball in his hands quickly every now and then — just so he’s a part of things. And that is all the more true in the situations he describes wanting the ball most (when the offense is struggling).
He’s voiced his frustration publicly. Now it’s time to see how the Eagles play-caller(s) respond. And to a fair extent, see if Hurts will turn to him at times as his trusted “go-to” guy.
That said, I value Hurts and his “just win” mentality more than anything else on the offensive side of the ball. I, personally, don’t care how ugly the stats may look. Getting the “W” is all that ultimately matters.
Hopefully the offense can iron itself out and begin to operate more smoothly. I don’t know if it will happen against the Broncos though. I feel like it’s either going to be another tough game, or it will come off as a statement game for the Eagles because they surprise me and make the offense click today in surprising fashion (given the struggles they’ve had, and the tough Broncos defense).