A report from mid-March suggested a trade sending wide receiver A.J. Brown out of Philadelphia is seen as “inevitable,” and no subsequent reporting has offered any real pushback on that notion. Consistent with the prevailing thought on the matter ESPN’s Jeff Darlington (video link) says the Eagles will be navigating this week’s draft as if Brown will be dealt (a post-June 1 transaction has always felt like the most logical move given the dead money charges Philly would incur if it were to consummate a trade prior to that date).
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports echoes those sentiments and uses GM Howie Roseman’s offseason additions of Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and Dontayvion Wicks to a WR room that already includes DeVonta Smith (and, for the time being, A.J. Brown) as further evidence that the three-time Pro Bowler will soon be on the move. Robinson hears the Eagles have especially high hopes for Wicks, whom they believe can unlock another level in Philly after showing flashes over his three seasons in Green Bay. Roseman acquired Wicks from the Packers in exchange for two Day 3 selections and then authorized a one-year, $12.5MM extension that keeps him under club control through 2027.
Darlington cautions that his report does not necessarily mean the Eagles will add a receiver in the draft, although they certainly have the ammunition to do so. The club currently holds the No. 23 overall pick as well as three Day 2 choices (Nos. 54, 68, and 98), and prior rumblings have suggested Roseman will be targeting WR help early in the draft. In terms of physicality and skillset, Washington’s Denzel Boston is something of an A.J. Brown comp, and Roseman could consider him with the No. 23 selection, as former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum posits in the above video report.
Obviously, using a premium pick on a wideout like Boston would be yet another indication that a Brown trade is in the offing, but even if Roseman does not make such a move, Darlington would not take that as a sign that Brown will remain in Philly. It still appears the soon-to-be 29-year-old has already played his last snap with the Eagles – as a majority of PFR readership believes – and the Patriots remain the frontrunner for his services.
New England added Romeo Doubs in free agency this offseason, but the reigning AFC champs are squarely within the window of opportunity afforded by quarterback Drake Maye’s rookie contract and have the cap space to absorb Brown’s contract. Even in a down season defined by struggles throughout the Eagles’ offense, Brown managed to catch 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven TDs.
Brown is going to the Patriots 100%
Would be interested in Cooper Jr at 23 if they do go WR. I like Boston but idk, something about him is off for me. I’m sure he will be a great pro and it’s a me thing. I just don’t like his game that much. I’d really like Lemon but he’s gonna be gone by the time 23 rolls around and I don’t wanna trade up for a WR.
As I said previously many times here, I knew the Smith/Brown tandem had a shelf life. I’m just glad it is Brown who is the one who will be leaving town (most likely)
They need OL so desperately…. IMHO a massive mistake.
There not taking a WR at 23 unless someone who is extremely high on thier board falls to them.
I actually believe they will trade down a couple slots and still have a shot at Ihaenachor or Blake Miller or Proctor. I just believe as always as soon as a couple DE/Edge names come off the board around between 10 to 15th picks that will start the run on DE and I also believe the same will happen with WR so a couple OL players will slide a little into the 20’s and 30’s.
@fta and double b, to be clear, I don’t want them to take a wr either. I want them to go OL also. I was just simply stating my preference if Howie WAS to go WR.
I keep saying Boston is not that guy.
Look at the track record for Washington WRs.
Odunze is good.
Odunze has had one season with over 700 yards. He’s yet to prove himself. Maybe if he had stayed healthy last year he hits 1,000 but there’s no guarantee of that.
Even if he turns out to be that guy, he’s the exception.
Exception to what? Odunze is good. Polk had a bad rookie year and has been injured since. McMillan had a perfectly fine rookie year and then was injured. Before their year, Washington hadn’t had a receiver drafted since Dante Pettit, who was in college four Washington coaches ago. So what relevant track record are you talking about? This is silly helmet scouting. Whether Boston is a hit, a bust, or anything in between has nothing to do with how a bunch of totally unconnected Washington players from different eras turned out.
Polk wasn’t just bad. He was terrible and yet thought he was a star. McMillian has yet to do much of anything.
That’s the rule. Overrated and often middling WRs and WRs who flat out did nothing at the NFL level.
Pettit is the reason Washington hasn’t had a WR drafted since. He’s a notorious second round bust who took years to become even an average WR. Then you have notorious bust John Ross and so many others over the years.
Track record does in fact matter when it stretches across multiple eras.
Those guys were recruited and coached by totally different groups of people, and only one of the most recent three was seen as a prospect of Boston’s level or higher. Should McMillan have been distrusted in the last draft because Arizona hasn’t had a lot of successful NFL receivers in recent years? Should Maryland guys be pushed up boards more because of Diggs and Moore? Of course not. It’s just helmet scouting.
People need to put their actual names on this. It’s like the 100% snowstorm that’s guaranteed to dump 2 feet of snow… That fizzles. But they got weeks of content out of it.
They can’t put names on it because when we find out the sources we also find out the insider is likely sleeping with them.
Such is life in journalism these days.
The New York Times of all people investigating her for conflict of interest is so hilariously hypocritical.
I think he gets traded. On June 2nd for cap reasons.
Patriots
The treat is already figured out between the Patriots and the Eagles. Eagles will receive the Patriots 2027 first round pick as well as a conditional 20 27/ third round pick that could be bumped up to a second round pick. It will be announced on June 2. As far as who they’re gonna draft, I think the Eagles move up and take Kenny Sadiq, the tight end out of Oregon. Or one of the many offensive lineman.
I’d take this right now if you give it to me. It’s so sad, AJB was by far #1 WR in franchise history …and like TO, turns into an intolerable diva
Ehhh I hear what you’re saying, but Brown is nowhere close to T.O. when it comes to acting out. Brown had some legitimate complaints, and despite being unhappy, never really said anything hugely out of line or theatrical. I just don’t think that I’d put it that same way.
Exactly. TO was a genuine malcontent who was unhappy he got traded to an organization that doesn’t cater to star players no matter what level they play at.
Brown is a guy who sacrificed A LOT statistically and only cared about the team winning. The Eagles trading him rather than putting real evaluation into the Hurts problem is proof he was right.
Doubt seriously any team pays that price for AJB. I am speculating a 2027 3rd with conditions to bring it up to a 2nd.
Laughing
Everyone but eagles fans are prepped for this
How does Charles Robinson still have a job? Can’t believe a word this clown would ever say.
You have an entire new offensive staff and philosophy coming in, one that is predicated on mobile o-linemen; of which we do not have at the moment.
It is an o line rich top of the draft.
We already have a number 1 wr.
We added a whole new wr room.
Can we stop the wr in rd 1 crap please?
If we draft wr in the 1st I’ll buy everyone here a case of beer.
Great. Now I’m invested in the Eagles picking a WR.
I don’t know why Sadiq to eagles seems like such a rose man type of move
Replying just to state the record that I’d like a 6 pack of Shiner Bock. A 4 pack of Tank 7 will also do.
If the Eagles can’t make their offense work with a player as good as Brown they can’t make it work with anyone
Bingo.
And will blame everyone but the player who is the actual reason it isn’t working.
You’re both right. But… I can’t get past his lack of effort in the last playoff game. He had several chances to bail out spotty QB play and crappy play calling, but instead either pulled up on routes or grew alligator arms. The whole situation sucks.
When is this song and dance gonna end
Eagles are going to ship him out and sign Jennings.