Philadelphia

Eagles

This move could be interpreted one of two ways. Brown could be slotted into the distant WR3 role behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, or he could be a No. 2 option behind Smith if the Eagles eventually part ways this offseason with the mercurial Brown. Brown in 2025 was an afterthought in the Kansas City, totaling 587 yards and five touchdowns over 16 games. He was targeted on a ho-hum 20 percent of his pass routes last year as a part-time player in a dysfunctional Chiefs offense. Brown, entering his age-29 season, could have some WR3/4 value in deeper fantasy formats if the Eagles trade away Brown in the coming weeks or months.

Slay spent the first seven years of his career (2013-2019) with the Lions before joining the Eagles in 2020. The six-time Pro Bowler and 2017 First-team All-Pro was a part of the Eagles’ 2024 championship team and led the league in both interceptions (8) and pass breakups (26) during the 2017 season. Slay walks away from the game with 28 career interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, and as the active leader in career pass breakups (163). He spent his final season with the Steelers before being claimed off waivers by the Bills in December.

The Patriots continue to sound like the only serious suitor for Brown, but Rapoport also notes that a trade for Brown “may be revisited in June” given where things stay right now. The Eagles’ decision to wait until June to trade Brown would reduce the dead money the team would take on this season from $40 million to $20 million. The impending trade of Brown already feels like a never-ending saga, so it only makes sense that this story would carry into the summer.

The two sides have been working hard to make this happen, having agreed to postpone the void date on Goedert’s expiring contract twice in the last week. Re-signing Goedert keeps him on board through the 2026 season and allows the Eagles to spread out the $20.5 million cap hit they were set to absorb. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo previously suggested that the Eagles can’t pay Goedert if they keep A.J. Brown, and they can’t take both salary cap hits. One domino has fallen. Only time will tell if Garafolo was correct. Stay tuned.

Earlier today, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that “the Eagles will not trade A.J. Brown at this time.” Garafolo said he “does not sense real momentum right now,” but he believes general manager Howie Roseman will engage in potential trade talks over the weekend. The Eagles face $20.5 million in dead money if they allow Goedert’s contract to expire at the new void deadline on Monday. Signing him to a new deal would allow them to spread some of that $20.5 million around to other years. Brown carries a cap hit greater than $23 million this year. Releasing him pre-June 1 would result in more than $72 million in dead money and a loss of $49 million in cap room. Per Over The Cap, the Eagles build team-friendly trade windows into their contracts. If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1st, the dead money drops to $48.939 million and the cap hit drops to $25.5 million. The two players’ futures with the team “are interconnected.”

Russini adds that both the Rams and Patriots are still interested in acquiring Brown, but if a trade were to happen, it would likely occur closer to June 1st. This could be due to salary cap hits incurred by the Eagles after June 1st, rather than a potential trade partner. While it is possible Brown remains an Eagle through the 2026 season, we expect this sage to pop up again in various news cycles. Stay tuned.

On Wednesday, the Eagles bumped Goedert’s void date back to today. The two sides are attempting to negotiate an extension that would keep Goedert, 31, in an Eagles uniform. It is clear that both sides would like to come to an agreement, but it is possible that Goedert is pricing himself out of the Eagles’ salary cap comfort zone. At the end of the day, it seems likely that they will work something out.

Russini expanded on her report from earlier today in an article at The Athletic, saying Eagles general manager Howie Roseman “won’t part with a great player for nothing” and that his “asking price for Brown was a first- and a second-round pick.” It is unclear whether Roseman is willing to lower the price, but that is the haul the Packers received when they traded WR Davante Adams away to the Raiders in 2022. Adams was 29 years old at the time. Brown turns 29 in June. Russini reported last weekend that the Patriots are not giving up a first-round pick to acquire Brown. Patriots executive vice president of player personnel, Eliot Wolf, said the only “real deadlines you have are salary-cap related” when it comes to improving the team via trades. Over The Cap currently lists the Patriots with $51.6 million in cap space and the Rams with $20.456 million.

It’s yet another “trade discussions are not dead” story surrounding Brown, who remains the most heavily discussed player after Trey Hendrickson joined the Ravens and Maxx Crosby was sent back home to Vegas. According to Russini, the Rams entertained a trade for Brown before acquiring Trent McDuffie, but they remain interested in the star receiver if the price is right. It goes without saying that this won’t be the last time we hear about Brown and a potential trade.

The contract includes $4.3 million in financial guarantees. Ebiketie spent the last four seasons with the Falcons after they drafted him in the 2022 NFL Draft’s second round. He totaled 25 quarterback pressures, two sacks, 24 solo tackles and seven TFLs last year. He now joins a talented Eagles defense.