The Philadelphia Eagles are no strangers to tough roster decisions, and that will continue this offseason with A.J. Brown, who I think they should trade at this point. As Philadelphia balances its short-term Super Bowl window with wanting not to deal with a headcase, the decision won’t be easy.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine connected Brown to a team positioned to make a splash. The Las Vegas Raiders enter the offseason with flexibility and the expectation that a new quarterback will arrive at the top of the draft in Fernando Mendoza. For a franchise fixing its identity, surrounding that quarterback with proven talent should be the play.
“The Raiders have the most cap space in the league and are widely expected to welcome Fernando Mendoza as their franchise quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the draft. A rookie quarterback's success often hinges on how much support they get. With that in mind, the Raiders would be justified in making a strong offer for A.J. Brown if the Eagles are open to dealing him. He would immediately give Mendoza a reliable No. 1 option and enhance opportunities for the younger receivers on the roster.
“It's hard to project fits until the Raiders have a new head coach, but they won't necessarily be tied to Pete Carroll's affinity for taller, longer cornerbacks. That could lead to an inter-division trade offer to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie,” he wrote.
The Raiders aren’t just in a good spot with cap space, as they’re also staring at a chance to be very good if Mendoza is who people think he is. Pairing a rookie quarterback with an established, star receiver like Brown would instantly take the pressure off a first-year Mendoza.
For the Eagles, the conversation isn’t as easy as it might seem. Brown is still so good, but his contract and attitude are a bit ridiculous for a player who doesn’t always seem to be locked in.
I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer for the Eagles. As a team, they’d likely be worse without Brown, but that doesn’t mean Roseman can’t use draft capital as he did for Brown and go out to get another guy.