The noise around A.J. Brown isn’t going away, even after the Philadelphia Eagles held onto their star wide receiver through the opening wave of free agency. Trade speculation picked up steam earlier this offseason, fueled by his 2025 frustrations and reported tension within the offense. For now, Brown remains in Philadelphia, but with the draft approaching and June 1 looming, the situation still feels unsettled.
Why Mike Garafolo Believes the Eagles Are Keeping Options Open With A.J. Brown
Despite the growing belief that a trade is inevitable, Mike Garafolo offered a more measured view of where things stand. Speaking on “Good Morning Football,” Garafolo emphasized that the Eagles are not locked into one outcome.
“I believe from the beginning, A.J. Brown was going to be traded,” he said. “The question was, would it happen in the first go around at the start of the league year in March, or would it wait till after June 1st, when it becomes a lot more palatable for the Eagles from a salary cap standpoint, this upcoming season, ’cause a big hit gets pushed into 2027.”
That financial wrinkle remains central to the entire situation. If the Eagles move Brown before June 1, they take on a significant dead cap hit immediately. Waiting allows them to spread that impact across multiple seasons, making a deal easier to justify from a roster-building standpoint.
Garafolo also made it clear that while a trade has been widely discussed, it is far from guaranteed.
“You look at that, and you say, Oh, it’s inevitable. I sort of look at it, and based on the conversations I’ve had, it can kind of go either way.”
That aligns with how Philadelphia has approached the offseason so far. The team did not pull the trigger on a deal during the early stages of the league year, despite multiple teams expressing interest. Instead, they’ve kept Brown in place while quietly evaluating their options.
How Flexibility Is Key as the Eagles Weigh Trading vs. Retaining Brown
At the center of it all is general manager Howie Roseman, who has built a reputation for keeping every door open. According to Garafolo, that mindset is shaping how the Eagles are handling Brown’s future.
“That they’re sort of building around A.J. Brown, but also if they make the trade, they feel good about the guys that will be, not left behind, but will remain as part of the wide receiver depth chart.”
.@MikeGarafolo on the latest with the Eagles & A.J. Brown ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/KwVSZyoW6h
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 13, 2026
That balancing act is evident in Philadelphia’s roster decisions. The Eagles have not made a major addition at wide receiver, but they also have not ignored the position entirely. With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, adding another pass catcher remains a real possibility.
Garafolo pointed to Roseman’s broader philosophy as the driving force behind the team’s approach.
“So Howie Roseman, as he’s wont to do, is sort of approaching things to give himself flexibility. You don’t ever want to paint yourself into a corner as a general manager.”
That flexibility cuts both ways. If the Eagles commit fully to Brown and avoid reinforcing the position, they risk being unprepared if a deal materializes. On the other hand, overloading the room could create its own issues if Brown stays.
“If he says, ‘Well, we’re not gonna trade him. So I’m not gonna build the depth chart, because I know I’m gonna have my number one wide receiver.’ Then you wind up trading them, then you’re screwed.”
That risk management explains why the Eagles have taken a patient approach. Brown is still under contract, and while his 2025 season did not meet expectations, he remains one of the most talented receivers in the league. Since being traded to Philadelphia in 2022, Brown has averaged an 87.5 (B+) score in PFSN’s NFL WR Impact Metrics.
“If you do it the other way, and you say, Well, we’re just gonna load it, and guys that aren’t gonna be able to coexist with A.J.? Well, that’s not gonna work, either.”
For now, the Eagles are threading the needle, keeping Brown while preparing for multiple outcomes.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
“So, Roseman’s sort of doing it both ways here and making sure that he’s got some flexibility, regardless of where it goes going.”
Until a clear decision is made, the speculation will continue. Whether Brown is still in Philadelphia by the start of the season may ultimately come down to timing, value, and how the Eagles choose to balance the present with the future.
