The Philadelphia Eagles are likely to trade A.J. Brown still, but where the veteran receiver lands in the next month still remains to be seen.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora connected the Eagles with a surprising trade partner, the Jacksonville Jaguars, in a deal where Philadelphia could acquire 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr.
The Eagles are waiting to trade Brown until after June 1, when his dead-salary-cap hit becomes a more reasonable number.
The Eagles would lose more than $40 million in cap space by dealing Brown before that date, and have a dead cap hit of more than $20 million. But they are actually in line to save roughly $7 million in their 2026 cap if they trade Brown after June 1.
The Eagles Could Trade AJ Brown to the Jaguars
Though a post-June 1 deal to the New England Patriots has seemed like a foregone conclusion, some around the NFL floated the Jaguars and embattled receiver Thomas as the potential landing spot.
“A personnel exec mentioned Jacksonville as a potential fit for Brown,” La Canfora reported for Sports Boom. “Jags receiver Brian Thomas, Jr. has regressed and been subject of trade rumors and 2025 top pick Travis Hunter is going to be playing way more cornerback than receiver moving forward and a vet like Brown could help fill a void there.”
Brown spent his first four seasons in the AFC South, playing for the Tennessee Titans, before the Eagles acquired him on draft day 2022. La Canfora also spelled out why Eagles GM Howie Roseman may want to give a struggling and disgruntled receiver a change of scenery.
“General manager Howie Roseman has a reputation for looking for young reserve and depth players on other rosters he believes could better flourish in Philadelphia,” La Canfora reported. “Several execs said they could see the Eagles landing a pick in 2027 and a player for Brown.”
Other Potential Fits for an AJ Brown Trade
Eagles fans holding out hope of a reconciliation are unlikely to get their wish.
“I still think itâs done before camp,â an NFL general manager, who was monitoring the situation earlier in the offseason, told La Canfora. âThey can afford to wait and see what develops. Theyâre already obviously carrying the salary (against the cap).â
So even though the Jaguars are a fit, and the Eagles could be in line to bring back in a young wideout like Thomas, there are other clubs, like the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs reportedly in the mix for Brown.
“The Patriots have been the team most heavily linked with Brown, but the Chiefs were linked with many receivers in the top of the draft,” La Canfora reported. “But [they] leaned heavily into fortifying the defense on the first two days of selections.”
La Canfora also floated a potential NFC rival who could end up as a trade partner, in the San Francisco 49ers.
“The 49ers, who at some point will part with awol receiver Brandon Aiyuk, have a very high payroll as it stands and their cap space has been an issue,” La Canfora wrote “But even with Mike Evans there one could make a case for Brown, especially with some of the recent injury with some of their top pass catchers.”
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