The Philadelphia Eagles may be on the verge of a franchise-altering move, and not everyone is on board. Following a report from Adam Schefter that the team is expected to trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, the debate has quickly picked up steam. On the “Speakeasy” podcast, former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy said he believes Philadelphia is heading in the wrong direction.
Why LeSean McCoy Believes the Philadelphia Eagles Are Undervaluing A.J. Brown’s Impact
McCoy has a dog in this fight. His heart is still with his old team. And you could hear the passion in his voice as he offered his perspective on whether the Eagles are making a mistake by potentially moving on from Brown. His concern centers on the kind of attention Brown commands, even when the box score does not reflect it.
“[The Eagles] think the grass is greener on the other side. I don’t think it is,” McCoy said. “I think when you take a guy like a number one, where people still double him, people still keep the safety over top for a reason. People still gameplan for him.”
That presence, McCoy argued, goes beyond stats. Brown’s ability to tilt coverage opens opportunities for everyone else on the field, particularly quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ ground game. Without that gravitational pull, the offense becomes easier to defend.
“And maybe his stats don’t show all the time, but when you’re a quarterback, and you see how the defense shifts to him compared to when he’s gone, now it’s just even out there?” McCoy added.
There is some statistical context behind the concern. According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metrics, Brown dropped from No. 3 overall in 2024 to No. 21 in 2025, reflecting a step back in production as the offense regressed. What McCoy’s argument suggests is that the underlying value remains intact, even if the raw numbers dipped.
How the Eagles Risk Losing Their Offensive Identity Without Brown
Beyond scheme and coverage, McCoy pointed to the bigger picture. Since Brown arrived in Philadelphia, the Eagles have consistently been one of the league’s most dangerous offenses, culminating in a Super Bowl run.
“We had some success without A.J. Brown. But since A.J. Brown came to the Philadelphia Eagles, everything has been better,” McCoy said. “Winning more games, going to the Super Bowl, winning the Super Bowl. All these things matter.”
For McCoy, the concern is not just about losing a player, but about unraveling what made the team successful in the first place. He highlighted how roster turnover can quietly chip away at a contender’s foundation.
“Now, when a lineman here goes, a lineman there goes, change a little bit on the defense. Now your number one receiver goes, an All-Pro receiver? It’s going to be different. I hate to see A.J. Brown go. I truly do.”
There is also the question of replacement value. Even if the Eagles receive significant compensation, McCoy remains skeptical that they can replicate what Brown brings.
“I don’t like this move, man. And then what were you replacing it with? You’re not going to get a player as talented as A.J. Brown in that position.”
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If the deal goes through after June 1, as Schefter reported, Brown could land in New England alongside quarterback Drake Maye, giving the Patriots a true No. 1 weapon. For Philadelphia, however, the move would be a directional shift. Whether that leads to long-term flexibility or short-term regression is the question, but McCoy believes this is a risk the Eagles may regret.
