The disgruntled wide receiver is most likely on the move this offseason. Should Mickey Loomis make the call?
After the Philadelphia Eagles were unceremoniously bounced from the NFC playoffs by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, one thing has become clear: A.J. Brown needs a change of scenery. Sure, the playcalling was suspect all season, but Brown didn't help himself by dropping passes that a superstar receiver should haul in.
Brown was very vocal with his displeasure about the offense and his role all season. His body language was off. When the offense shifted to feeding him the ball, the Eagles struggled to score points. At this point, both parties should go their separate ways.
So what about the New Orleans Saints? There is an obvious connection between Brown and Saints head coach Kellen Moore. A duo of Chris Olave and Brown and is explosive. Tyler Shough would have weapons that other teams dream about at receiver.
What would a trade for Brown look like? Patrick McAvoy of Sports Illustrated has put together a trade package for Brown that could shake up the Saints' roster.
Saints receive: A.J. Brown
Eagles Receive: 2026 Second-Round Pick, 2026 Third-Round Pick, and 2027 Third-Round Pick
McAvoy explains his thought process:
The Eagles acquired Brown for the No. 18 and the No. 101 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In this scenario, they would get two second-round picks and a third-round pick. For a team that underachieved and has massive expenses on offense, this would be a way to cut costs while reloading with three picks in the first three rounds.
For the Saints, they would get a superstar wide receiver on a long-term deal who has had success with Moore. There would be financial questions with New Orleans' cap, but if it could sort them out, Brown would be a worthy target, if available.
At this point, Brown's trade value has plummeted. Teams will be wary of giving away valuable draft capital for a player who can be vocal in the media about his role and possibly give up on the field. The three picks New Orleans would send are good compensation for Philadelphia, plus the Saints can use their high-end picks to continue to add to this roster.
Shough's play down the stretch with a high first-round pick, plus adding Brown, would be a successful draft day haul. The only question is the juice worth the squeeze? It would be up to Moore to keep Brown engaged and under control with their rapport.