The Eagles are hoping to resolve the A.J. Brown saga by the beginning of the new league year on Wednesday. The Patriots have shown the most interest in trading for the three-time Pro Bowl receiver, but they have balked at the Eagles’ asking price so far. The Chargers and Bills have also been connected to Brown. It turns out those three teams and the Chiefs are on Brown’s wish list, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.
With the Patriots moving on from previous No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs, their need for a starter was glaringly obvious entering free agency. To some degree, the Patriots addressed it in agreeing to a four-year, $80MM contract with former Packer Romeo Doubs on Tuesday.
Doubs will at least give the Patriots a capable starter if they are unable to close the gap in talks with the Eagles. The reigning AFC champions are not necessarily out on Brown yet, per Karen Guregian of MassLive.com. Adding Brown to Doubs would give third-year quarterback Drake Maye a tantalizing one-two punch at receiver.
The Chargers have wideouts Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and 2025 second-rounder Tre Harris under contract for next season. Johnston may be a trade candidate, though, and Keenan Allen is still unsigned. There remains room in Los Angeles for Brown, especially with the team boasting the league’s second-most cap space ($66.83MM). The Chargers are well-positioned to take on the remainder of Brown’s three-year, $96MM contract, but Breer does not regard them as serious suitors.
While Brown is open to joining Josh Allen in Buffalo, that is no longer on the table, according to Breer. The Bills agreed to acquire a different expensive veteran wideout, D.J. Moore, from the Bears last week. Moore cost the Bills a pick in Round 2, whereas the Eagles have been holding out for at least a first- and a second-rounder. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Moore is owed significant guaranteed money through 2028.
Brown could form an intimidating duo with Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, but there is no indication KC is involved in this derby. The Chiefs went into free agency focused on adding a running back, per Breer. They accomplished that mission in signing former Seahawk/Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker to a three-year, $43.05MM deal. The team also wants to use its haul of draft choices to “replenish” its roster, Breer writes. The Chiefs own two first-rounders and three of the top 40 choices in this year’s draft, but it does not appear they will part with any of them for Brown.
Brown will see $4MM of his 2027 salary guarantee on the third day of the league year, giving the Eagles limited time to move him before it vests. Trading Brown before June 1 would hit the Eagles with a $43.45MM dead cap charge, a record for his position. They would also lose $20.12MM in cap room. If general manager Howie Roseman waits until after June 1 to move Brown, the Eagles would spread the dead money over two years. Philadelphia would be stuck with $16.35MM in 2026 and $27.1MM in ’27, though it would save $7MM on its cap next season.
I just don’t see anyone meeting the high price. Brown could benefit from Sean Mannion’s offense and th Eagles still need his production.
For the entire offseason, I’ve felt like the Brown drama was much ado about nothing.
I don’t think they want to trade him. They set the asking price this high for a reason
near close to 30 year old very expensive WR that has demanded his way off 2 franchise; no thanks.
He didn’t demand his way outta TN. They tried to extend him for less than 20/yr…him getting traded pissed Vrabel off and led to HIM getting fired…PHI paid him 25/yr…got back-to-back 1400 yd seasons and a championship…ALL of which TN wishes they could have back. Don’t blame AJ for TN’s lack of vision.
No he demanded his way out of TEN
Yes contract negotiations failed once they couldn’t close the gap with Titans offering 16-20 mill a year and Brown wanting 21-22 a year – he was extended for 23 mill and given the 84 mill guaranteed he wanted
But after contract negotiations failed Brown and his camp requested to be traded out of TEN and stopped communicating with the team prior to the 2022 draft thus demanding his way out.
“ According to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, Brown asked for a trade and cut off all contact with the Titans, including his coaches, three weeks before the draft after the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new contract.
As a result, Tennessee traded Brown to the Eagles for the 18th overall pick, as well as a 2022 third-round selection. The Titans used No. 18 to select Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks, who will presumably be Brown’s replacement.”
@battleangle: Maybe it’s a little bit of semantics, but Brown did eventually demand a trade. This ESPN article is a pretty solid recap of the situation and includes both Brown’s and the Titans’s sides of the story, as well as the Eagles’s:
link to espn.com
It’s not semantics
Brown requested a trade
He cut off communication with the organization and coaches after requesting a trade
So to say he “didn’t demand his way out” isn’t correct lol. He requested a trade and refused to talk to them unless it was to inform him he’d been traded. Idk how much more demanding a guy can get
“I’m not playing for you no more and don’t talk to me unless you’ve traded me!”
Brown had balls considering he was nicked up alot with the Titans. Once he got the contract from Philly, similar to McCaffrey with SF, he has played every game, with hardly any injuries.
Patriots already offered a 1st and a 3rd. Eagles won’t get a better offer than that. In fact, if I’m the Patriots, that offer is now off the table and replaced by a 2nd and 4th.
Then the Patriots can make due with Doubs and Boutte. Eagles will be just fine keeping Brown
Works for me.
Nab another WR in the draft as well.
I’ll take something that didn’t happen for $1,000 Alex….
No way they can trade him
Not if you talk to Chiefs fans. They are going to get AJ Brown, Trent Williams and a bunch of others. all they have to do is just restructure current deals to reload.