It’s no secret that A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles’ season hasn’t started exactly as they wanted. While the team jumped out to a 4-0 start, two straight losses, including a disastrous performance against the New York Giants, have dropped their record to 4-2.
The record may say 4-2, but the vibes feel much worse. Frustration is building, much of it stems from A.J. Brown’s surprising lack of involvement in the offense.
Why Is A.J. Brown at the Center of Trade Rumors?
Through six games, Brown has just 274 yards on 25 catches, putting him on pace for around 800 yards for the season, a total well below what he is capable of. This sharp decline in production has led to many trade rumors as the Week 9 trade deadline approaches. Despite the speculation, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that although the Eagles have received calls on A.J. Brown, teams making offers have been told that Philadelphia is not moving him.
This news isn’t shocking, as it would be difficult for the Eagles to acquire proper value in return for the dynamic playmaker while his stock is lower than it has been in a while. Brown’s performance this year has been highly unusual. While there have been games where the Eagles’ offense relied on the run game and involved Brown minimally, it has never been to this extent.
He still managed to rack up more than 1,000 yards in the previous season despite a nagging hamstring injury. Furthermore, in 2022 and 2023, Brown was one of the most statistically productive receivers in the league, finishing with over 1,400 yards and at least 88 catches in each campaign.
Philadelphia originally acquired Brown in a trade from the Tennessee Titans that cost them a first and fourth-round pick. He was then signed to a four-year, $100 million contract in 2022. His excellent early results with the team earned him a three-year, $96 million extension in 2024. According to PFSN’s NFL Top 100 Players Metrics, Brown is ranked 11th at his position, on a list where Lamar Jackson tops the table.
His time in Philadelphia had been relatively smooth sailing before the recent turmoil, which is now a real test for Brown and the team. Eyebrows were raised last season when he began reading books on the sidelines during the team’s most important games, including a divisional matchup at home against the Green Bay Packers and even in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
With his lack of involvement in the offense through six games, it shouldn’t be a shock if he brings reading back to the sideline sometime soon. Regardless of the drama, the Eagles need to find a way to get their star receiver the ball more if they want to remain serious contenders.
