The Standard Is Set for an A.J. Brown Trade
Let me be clear, I DO NOT think the Eagles should trade AJ Brown today, tomorrow, during the draft, or at the start of the season.
If Sean Mannion & Co. aren’t the solution to the Eagles’ problems from last year, or something disastrous happens to begin the year, and the Eagles are sellers at the trade deadline. We could revisit this conversation.
However, with a slew of news, a standard has been set for what the Birds should do if they decide to pull the trigger on a franchise-changing move, thanks to a move made between the Bears and Bills ahead of Free Agency.
DJ Moore on the Move
With today’s trade, the Buffalo Bills acquired DJ Moore and a 2026 5th-round pick in exchange for a 2026 2nd-round pick. Providing Josh Allen with a new WR1 to help get over the playoff hump.
Since arriving in Chicago, Moore has seen his production decline, with his best year coming as the #1 option with Justin Fields. Caleb Williams was also given Luther Burden, Colston Loveland, and Rome Odunze since joining the Bears in 2024.
- 2023 – 1,364 Yards, 96 Receptions, 8 TDs
- 2024 – 966 Yards, 98 Receptions, 6 TDs
- 2025 – 682 Yards, 50 Receptions, 6 TDs
The soon-to-be 29-year-old receiver has been elected to 0 Pro Bowls and 9 All-Pro nods since being drafted by Carolina in 2018.
The Start of Free Agency
There was a lot of smoke that teams like the Buffalo Bills or New England Patriots would be in on A.J. Brown at some point during the offseason. The first week of free agency proved that not only would teams not pay the listed price, but also the going rate for a wide receiver would increase after the Alec Pierce extension.
With 1,003 yards in 2025, Pierce cashed in a 4-year, $114 million deal with an average value of $28.5M to stay in Indianapolis. Coming in with an extra $3.5M over DeVonta Smith, maybe a 1st-round pick for an A.J. Brown trade package was a realistic ask.
Other deals that were signed at the start of free agency included:
- Wan’Dale Robinson 4/$70M (TEN)
- Romeo Doubs 4/$68M (NE)
- Rashid Shaheed 3/$51M (SEA)
- Mike Evans 3/$42.4M (SF)
Of the listed players, only Robinson and Evans have eclipsed the 1,000-yard milestone.
In A.J. Brown’s first 2 years in Philadelphia, he saw nearly 1,500 yards (1,496 & 1,456), a milestone that Evans hasn’t reached since 2018, with 1,524. Evans highest receiving yards since are 1,255 yards. In 2023.
Following his 4/$100M deal, he signed during the 2022 Draft. A.J. Brown signed a three-year extension worth $96 Million after Super Bowl celebrations. Making an average of $32M until 2029 the Eagles either have a franchise piece for multiple years.
Or could be trading a receiver at a fantastic price, the 7th highest in average salary behind DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, and Terry McLaurin.
If it were up to you, would you move on from A.J. Brown?
Or are you keeping the Eagles WR duo intact until the end of their deals?
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