A.J.

Brown

Per Rapoport, there are questions as to whether Brown and QB Jalen Hurts “can be together for another season.” He also states bluntly that if the team wishes to trade him away, they will take a cap hit to do so. Earlier today, The Athletic’s Mike Silver reported something similar, though he believes the Eagles and a potential trade partner “might need to find a more creative solution, such as a preemptively reworked contract.” Stay tuned.

Silver notes that Brown’s talents are not being maximized. After this season, we tend to agree. Were the Eagles to trade him, though, it would create more than $72 million in dead money. Silver believes that “the team and potential suitors might need to find a more creative solution, such as a preemptively reworked contract.” Of course, hiring a brilliant offensive coordinator could always fix things. Brown’s discontent is well documented, but revamping roles may simply be the best and easiest fix.

Hurts still has three years left on the five-year, $255 million extension he signed in 2023, but according to Silver, “NFL sources familiar with the Eagles’ organizational mindset believe they might draft a quarterback this spring.” This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen the Eagles use a high-end draft pick to rug pull a franchise quarterback already on a lucrative deal. Back in 2020, the team shocked everyone when they used a second-round pick on Hurts to eventually serve as the replacemnent for Carson Wentz, who had just signed a four-year, $128 million contract extension in 2019. Hurts and the Eagles struggled mightily on offense. The switch from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to Kevin Patullo didn’t go as planned, and the team has already moved to improve on their play-calling situation next season by removing Patullo from that role. It would still be surprising to see the Eagles move on from Hurts after one down season after he lead the team to a Super Bowl title in 2024, but given the Eagles’ history of how they manage the quarterback position, this will remain something to watch leading up to draft day.

In short, Roseman complimented his No. 1 wide receiver while refusing to say whether the team is open to trading him. Per Roseman, when the Eagles “go out in free agency and the Draft,” they are " trying to find great players who love football and [Brown is] that guy.” It is the type of answer one expects to hear from a smart general manager who is willing to make big moves, and it gives the audience very little to go on.

After firing offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo following a mostly disastrous 2025 season, the Eagles should seek “a fresh set of eyes” to reevaluate the Philly offense and how it utilizes its skill position players, Murphy said. McDaniel, who designed and called plays for a Miami offense that ranked among the NFL’s most efficient from 2022 to 2024 — before the team’s 2025 collapse. Eagles players, including DeVonta Smith, said after the team’s Wild Card loss to the 49ers that the offensive scheme had not changed at all in recent years despite the Eagles shuffling through offensive coordinators. That suggests the problem lies with head coach Nick Sirianni. “Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie pride themselves on being ahead of the curve. They’d rather be a year early than a year late,” Murphy said. “Right now, it is getting late early. McDaniel or not, they need a new voice, an inventive mind, and a fresh set of eyes. Anybody else will end up right where Patullo is. And that’s not fair to anybody.”

Brown heads into the offseason with a performance emblematic of his 2025 struggles and frustrations. One of his missed connections was a brutal fourth quarter drop with the Eagles trying to stave off defeat, while he was caught on camera earlier in the contest having yet another heated argument with coach Nick Sirianni. Brown was probably putting forth his best effort, but there were too many times this season where you could not be sure that was the case. Going on 29 with one more season of guaranteed money ($29 million) remaining on his contract, Brown seems like a strong candidate to be traded and extended/restructured elsewhere. He is too visibly over his fit in this run-first Eagles offense. Brown seems like he also badly needs the offseason to get healthier. Always playing through something or other — Brown’s toughness isn’t in doubt — he didn’t always seem to have his typical explosiveness this season. Wherever Brown is playing his 2026 football, it’s doubtful he falls out of the top 12 at wideout in offseason fantasy drafts.

The Eagles could climb as high as the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a victory and a Lions win over Chicago, and Garafolo believes they could beat Washington with some of their key starters resting for the postseason. That could include Jalen Hurts, which would mean Tanner McKee could see significant playing time against a Commanders defense being bludgeoned by opposing QBs. If Saquon Barkley sits, Tank Bigsby — who has been ultra efficient as an Eagle — could see a full workload against the Swiss cheese Washington run defense. It’s a situation to monitor for fantasy managers playing in Week 18 championships.

Brown made a few tough catches in the first half with defenders in close coverage and the yardage gave him his fourth-straight 1,000-yard receiving season. However, the Eagles’ offense gained just 19 total yards in the second half, so there was not much for Brown after his early drives. We’d expect more production next week against a Commanders team that Brown just posted 95 yards against a week ago.

Neither is Devonta Smith (illness), and both figure to remain involved borderline WR1 and borderline WR2 starters, respectively, in Week 17 fantasy championships. Brown practiced in full today and should be good to go.

Brown had his wisdom teeth removed earlier in the week and was listed as a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday. Brown isn’t expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Bills, but his return is notable after two days away. We will check back in regarding his Week 17 availability when the team releases its final practice report in a few hours.