Star wide receiver A.J. Brown remains on the Philadelphia Eagles roster—for now. But his four-year tenure with the team (2022-25) has been shadowed by public complaints about his offensive role and persistent speculation about his relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Last season, Brown told fantasy football owners to "get rid" of him and sarcastically quipped that playing "Madden NFL 26" was the only way to find highlights of his performance. Former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson fueled the drama in November, hinting that something was "going on" between Brown and Hurts.

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the Eagles were fielding trade inquiries from multiple teams.

The Teams Circling Brown

The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots inquired about trading for Brown during the opening week of NFL free agency, according to The Athletic. Brown's connection to Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel runs deep—Vrabel coached him during his first three seasons with the Tennessee Titans (2019-21).

The Eagles are currently tabling any trade discussions involving Brown.

What Philadelphia Wants

The Eagles are demanding at least one first-round pick and a top-100 draft pick in any deal for Brown, per Sports Illustrated.

The Contract Details

Brown, who will turn 29 at the start of the 2026 season, signed a three-year, $96 million extension with Philadelphia in April 2024. The deal includes $84 million guaranteed but doesn't kick in until 2027.

Why June 1 Matters

The timing of any trade carries significant financial implications. If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1, they absorb a $43 million dead cap hit. After June 1, that number drops to just $16.4 million—making a post-June 1 trade far more palatable.

NFL rules allow teams to spread dead cap hits over two years beginning June 1, whereas trades before that date hit the salary cap immediately.

Eagles' Offseason Moves

Philadelphia has been active on multiple fronts:

• Extended defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a three-year, $78 million deal (March 7)
• Signed 2022 Pro Bowler cornerback Riq Woolen (one-year, $12 million)
• Signed linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (one-year, $7.3 million)

Brown's 2025 Performance

Fresh off the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX championship, Brown posted 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns through 15 regular-season games—his sixth 1,000-yard season in seven NFL years.

But the numbers mask deeper problems. His 12.9 yards per reception marked a career low. Brown had only two or fewer receptions in four separate games, and managed just three catches on seven targets in Philadelphia's NFC Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers at home.