After coming up just short in the AFC Championship Game - a narrow 10-7 loss to the Patriots - the Denver Broncos are heading into the offseason with one goal in mind: take the next step. And while injuries are part of the game, it’s hard not to wonder how things might’ve played out had Bo Nix stayed healthy. Denver looked like a team built for February football, but now they’re back to the drawing board, just weeks away from the start of the new league year.
One potential move that could shake up the AFC? A trade for Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J.
Brown. That’s the prediction floated by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who sees the Broncos making a bold play to bolster their offense by sending cornerback Riley Moss, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-rounder to Philly.
In return, Denver would land Brown and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Let’s break that down.
From a roster-building standpoint, this would be a significant swing for the Broncos - but one that aligns with where they are in their competitive window. After a deep playoff run and a defense that held its own late into January, Denver’s offense could use a jolt.
Courtland Sutton has been a reliable target, but pairing him with Brown would give Bo Nix (or whoever’s under center) a true 1-2 punch on the outside. That kind of firepower can change the complexion of a game - and a season.
Of course, any deal like this starts with whether the Eagles are actually willing to move on from Brown. Barnwell notes that the situation in Philly is “tenuous,” but also cautions that a trade isn’t a foregone conclusion.
GM Howie Roseman publicly downplayed the idea back in January, and there’s a financial wrinkle here too. Trading Brown before June 1 would saddle the Eagles with $43.5 million in dead money - a massive number, even in an era where the salary cap is pushing north of $300 million.
That said, Philadelphia has some tough decisions ahead. If veteran contributors like Dallas Goedert and Brandon Graham don’t return, or if Lane Johnson decides to hang it up, the Eagles could be looking at a mini-rebuild - or at least a retooling. In that context, recouping draft capital and shedding a big contract might make sense.
For Denver, though, this would be a win-now move. And it fits the timeline.
They’ve got a young quarterback, a defense that’s proven it can hang with the best, and a coaching staff that’s shown it can scheme with the top teams in the league. Adding a physical, explosive receiver like Brown - who can win at all three levels and draw coverage away from Sutton - would elevate this offense in a big way.
There’s no guarantee this trade happens. But if it does? The Broncos would be sending a clear message to the rest of the AFC: last year wasn’t a fluke - and they’re coming for more.