Eagles’ AJ Brown Likely Staying Put for Now
It seems that Eagles receiver AJ Brown is going to remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
During a recent joint press conference, general manager Howie Roseman faced questions about the potential trading of head coach Nick Sirianni and the top wide receiver. Interestingly, Brown had chosen to skip media interviews following the Eagles’ narrow 23-19 playoff loss to the 49ers.
“Great players are hard to come by in the NFL, and AJ is certainly one of them,” Roseman remarked. “What we want to find in both free agency and the draft are exceptional players who really love the game. So, that’s my take.”
This isn’t the first time Roseman addressed the idea of trading Brown. Back in November, he explained the difficulty of letting go of a talent like Brown while aiming for team excellence. “It’s challenging to trade a player of his caliber when you’re trying to build a great team. He’s an important piece of our organization,” he stated, adding, “He genuinely cares about winning and his teammates. Moving someone like him just doesn’t fit our vision as a competitive team.”
Some observers felt that Roseman was a bit evasive in his responses during Thursday’s presser.
Brown’s contract extends through 2029, following a hefty three-year, $92 million agreement signed last April. However, he’s voiced dissatisfaction with his role within the Eagles’ offensive scheme on various occasions, both in interviews and online.
This past season, Brown accumulated 1,003 receiving yards, marking the second-lowest total in what has been a seven-year career. He even had eight games where he registered under 50 receiving yards, with just 25 yards recorded in the loss against the 49ers.
Reportedly, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie had a conversation with Brown on the field during practice last November, aiming to address his grievances. After expressing frustration with the offense, Brown assured Lurie he would refrain from airing concerns on social media in the future.
There also seemed to be some friction between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts. When asked about Brown’s potential return for another season during “Locker Cleaning Day,” Hurts replied, “We’re in a good, great place.”
