While the Philadelphia Eagles haven’t shown any indication of wanting to part ways with A.J. Brown, the prospect of an enticing trade package could spark their interest. Bleacher Report’s Jake Ellenbogen has outlined various potential trade scenarios for the Eagles to consider involving Brown.
One proposed trade involves the Eagles acquiring a bundle of draft picks from the New England Patriots. With the Patriots likely to use their No. 3 overall pick on a future quarterback, they compensate for the absence of an additional first-rounder by offering three draft selections to Philadelphia. This includes a high second-round pick (No. 34), a third-round pick (No. 68), and a fourth-round pick (No. 102), all in the 2024 NFL draft.
Ellenbogen explained during a March 7, 2024 live stream that the Patriots, with only one first-round pick, are unlikely to trade away their third overall selection. Hence, they offer a package of a second, third, and fourth-round picks to acquire Brown, aiming to usher in a new era of Patriots football with a franchise quarterback alongside Brown.
Brown has demonstrated impressive production, recording a career-best 106 receptions for 1,456 yards and 7 touchdowns while starting every game in 2023. He has surpassed 1,400 receiving yards in consecutive seasons and has three years remaining on his four-year, $100 million contract.
Although Brown’s $12.4 million cap hit for 2024 is reasonable, it escalates significantly to $26.5 million in 2025 and a substantial $41.5 million in 2026, when he will be 29 years old.
In this proposed trade scenario, the Eagles use Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator to explore the draft outcomes. They acquire a significant number of players, several of whom are projected to become starters. The drafted players include cornerback Cooper DeJean from Iowa (No. 22), wide receiver Ladd McConkey (No. 34), cornerback Mike Sainristil from Michigan (No. 50), receiver Keon Coleman from Florida State (No. 53), linebacker Junior Colson from Michigan (No. 68), running back Braelon Allen from Wisconsin (No. 103), and safety Malik Mustapha from Wake Forest.
This trade proposal allows the Eagles to bolster their defense with additional cornerbacks and a linebacker, leveraging the talent from Michigan’s successful collegiate roster. While it’s acknowledged that replacing Brown’s production would be challenging, the Eagles aim to enhance their overall team dynamic with this trade, potentially strengthening their defense and adding depth at various positions, even though it might not directly substitute Brown’s receiving yards.
