Talented wide receiver A.J. Brown’s trade from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots was one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason. Brown left the Eagles under a cloud after friction with quarterback Jalen Hurts over his declining production. However, Eagles legend Terrell Owens doesn’t believe Brown’s trade will cause the team to regress.
Terrell Owens Addresses Eagles’ Impact of A.J. Brown’s Exit
While speaking to reporters during MLB’s All-Star weekend, Owens shrugged off concerns about Philadelphia’s offense after Brown’s trade to the Patriots. Owens pinpointed DeVonta Smith as the man to step up to fill the gap left by Brown.
“I mean, they got DeVonta Smith. I mean, he’s always been a number-one guy even when A.J. was here,” Owens said. “I mean, he could have easily been WR1 at any game. So again, he’s going to show that leadership. He’s going to bring those guys along. So I don’t see any drop-off. Those guys gonna be fine.”
Terrell Owens says Eagles won’t see a drop off with AJ Brown gone.
“They got DeVonta Smith. Hes always been a #1 guy even when AJ was there… I don’t see any drop off, those guys are gonna be fine” #Eagles via 94WIP pic.twitter.com/xQi7iPgIVG
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) July 13, 2026
Smith was selected No. 10 overall by the Eagles in the 2021 NFL Draft and has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league. He was a key cog in the Eagles team that won Super Bowl LIX alongside Jalen Hurts and Brown.
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Smith was also only the fifth player to have ever won the national championship (with the Alabama Crimson Tide), Heisman Trophy, and the Super Bowl. Last season, he tallied 1,008 receiving yards on 77 catches, resulting in four touchdowns, earning a PFN Wide Receiver Impact score of 80.0 and ranking him No. 11 in the NFL.
On the other hand, Brown earned a PFN Wide Receiver Impact score of 79.9, ranking No. 12 in the league. He tallied 1,003 yards on 78 receptions, resulting in seven touchdowns as his overall numbers plummeted to their lowest point in his Eagles career, averaging 66.9 yards per game and 12.9 yards per catch.
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During an appearance on the “Good Morning Football” show last week, Eagles icon Brandon Graham was also adamant that both the Eagles and Brown would be happier apart starting next season.
“I think it’s gonna be great this year for both sides because everybody is happy,” Graham said. “You don’t wanna be in-house frustrated over things that sometimes you can’t control. And I understand where he (Brown) is, where he was as a receiver. I do understand that it’s all about production, and some people have to live differently.
“I mean, I wouldn’t probably have handled it the way he did, but at the same time, I can get exactly why he was frustrated. So, I think that it’s gonna be a great year for both parties because he’s coming out excited just like the team, I think that them guys are getting better, seeing as they was down in Florida together. That’s something that we haven’t had in some years now because of the frustration.”
The Eagles’ wide receiver room will also feature former USC Trojans star Makai Lemon, who was selected No. 20 overall during the 2026 NFL Draft, Dontayvion Wicks, and Marquise Brown next season.
