Seemingly everything has gone right for the Philadelphia Eagles during their 4-0 start to the season. Though if we’re getting picky, the passing game offers some serious concerns after ranking 31st in yards through four games.
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Eventually, star receivers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith could grow angry with their lack of production. For now, the tandem has combined for 309 yards and two touchdowns, just over half of the team’s total of 609 yards.
Of the two, Brown seems to be the one who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Would he get to a point where he wants another trade, this time out of Philadelphia, despite playing for a winner?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler doesn’t see a scenario where the Eagles part ways with Brown during the season, but that could change once the offseason arrives.
“Despite a 4-0 start, the Eagles are forced to answer for a cryptic tweet from receiver A.J. Brown, which brings their 31st-ranked passing offense into focus. First, to get this out of the way: Brown’s contract comes with a dead cap hit of nearly $90 million. That’s tough to trade, even for an aggressive front office such as Philadelphia — though not impossible if designated as a post-June 1 trade. Some execs I spoke to this week don’t expect Philadelphia to trade Brown in-season but said that it could be something to entertain in the offseason. It’s sort of the worst-kept secret inside the league that Brown’s love-hate relationship with Philly’s passing game bubbles to the surface from time to time. He’s a true competitor and wants to be great. With that comes emotion and inevitable frustration.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on A.J. Brown
Brown may welcome an opportunity to play a larger role as a pass-catcher, and he won’t find that consistency in Philadelphia as long as Jalen Hurts is the starting quarterback. Brown is signed through 2029, but his three-year, $96 million contract extension signed in 2024 won’t take effect until the start of the 2026 season. That gives any team that acquires him an elite receiver at a reasonable rate that’s already locked in.
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Who knows? Perhaps there’s even a world where Brown gets traded to the New England Patriots, where he’d have a chance to reunite with former head coach Mike Vrabel.
With Drake Maye continuing to improve, it’s possible the Patriots could return to contention. Plus, a dynamic duo of Brown and Stefon Diggs could be dangerous. Whether they’d ever be a true Super Bowl contender like the Eagles currently are would require near perfection, but it’d be fun to watch them try.
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