Wide receiver A.J. Brown’s trade from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots was one of the notable moves on June 1, only matched by Myles Garrett’s trade from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams. Brown had long been linked with a move away from the Eagles due to mounting frustrations with the team’s offense.
Report Details A.J. Brown’s Clash With Jalen Hurts That Led to Eagles Exit
A report published on Monday by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Sarah Barshop, Mike Reiss, Daniel Oyefusi and Tim McManus detailed how Brown’s Eagles exit was motivated in part by quarterback Jalen Hurts.
“Brown, 28, is driven by winning and had hoped to create a Patriots-like dynasty in Philadelphia, but is also chasing a Hall of Fame career. He wants to be a central part of the offense and a catalyst for the winning, which wasn’t always the case over the past couple of seasons,” the report stated.
“A good bit of his angst stemmed from the play of Hurts, league sources said, in part because of Hurts’ perceived reluctance to target Brown on tight-window throws against zone coverage.”
After being traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Eagles in 2022, Brown quickly became a key component in the team that reached Super Bowl 57 before establishing himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league.
Brown vocalized his disgruntlement with the Eagles’ offense last season and his 66.9 yards per game and 12.9 yards per catch were his lowest in four seasons. He tallied 1,003 yards on 78 receptions, resulting in seven touchdowns and earned a PFSN Wide Receiver Impact score of 80.9, good for No. 21 in the league.
The ESPN report further detailed why the Eagles ultimately decided to let go of the star wide receiver, who alongside Hurts, was an integral part of the team that won Super Bowl 59. The Eagles received a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick from the Patriots in return.
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“The Eagles didn’t want a situation in which it felt like they weren’t in it together, knowing they’ve been at their best when team chemistry is right,” the report said. “Through conversations between Brown and management, it became apparent early in the offseason that Brown wanted out of Philly, believing it was best for the next stage of his career.”
Brown’s trade from the Eagles to the Patriots reunited him with coach Mike Vrabel, who was the head coach during his stint with the Tennessee Titans, when he was selected No. 51 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
