Since 2024, AJ Brown’s name has been floating around the NFL trade rumor mill, and after the way the 2025 season wrapped up in Philadelphia, that buzz is only getting louder.
Let’s start with the context: Brown, one of the league’s most physically dominant wideouts, hasn’t exactly hidden his frustration with the Eagles’ offensive direction lately. The arrival of Saquon Barkley added a new dimension to Philly’s ground game, and the now-infamous “tush push” - that quarterback sneak variation the Eagles have turned into a weekly ritual - has become the team’s signature play.
It’s efficient, sure, but it’s also shifted the offense’s center of gravity away from the passing game. And that’s left a player like Brown, who thrives on targets and big-play opportunities, feeling a bit like a luxury item in a run-first scheme.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has leaned even more into his dual-threat identity, and while that’s made the Eagles hard to stop in short-yardage situations, it’s also meant fewer looks for Brown downfield. That tension seemed to boil over at the end of the season.
Brown had a rough outing in the wild-card loss to the 49ers, including some costly drops and a visible sideline spat with head coach Nick Sirianni. It was the kind of moment that tends to linger in the minds of front offices - and fans.
So now, with the Eagles’ season in the rearview mirror, Brown’s name is once again popping up in trade proposals. One of the more intriguing scenarios being floated? A potential deal with the Los Angeles Chargers that would send Brown to the AFC West in exchange for wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
Now, on the surface, this might raise some eyebrows. Johnston - a former first-round pick - had a bumpy start to his NFL career.
But in 2025, he started to put things together. He finished the season with 51 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns across 14 games.
More importantly, the drop issues that plagued him early on seem to be behind him. He’s become a more reliable target, and with one year left on his rookie deal, he’d be a cost-effective option for Philly - especially if they’re looking to reset their wide receiver room without spending big.
From the Eagles’ perspective, this kind of move would signal a shift. Trading away a star like Brown isn’t something you do lightly, but if the coaching staff is committed to a run-heavy identity and wants to build around Hurts’ mobility and Barkley’s explosiveness, then moving on from a high-priced wideout might make sense. Johnston wouldn’t replace Brown’s production immediately, but he’d give the Eagles a young, ascending player with upside - and cap flexibility.
As for the Chargers, adding a weapon like AJ Brown would be a clear statement of intent. Their 2025 season didn’t go as planned, and they’re looking for ways to retool around their franchise quarterback. The run game in L.A. hasn’t been nearly as effective as Philly’s, which means Brown would likely see more targets - and more chances to do what he does best: bully defensive backs, win contested catches, and stretch the field.
Brown’s 2025 numbers - 78 catches, 1,003 yards, and seven touchdowns - are still top-tier, even in a system that didn’t fully cater to his strengths. Plug him into an offense that’s more pass-centric, and the ceiling only goes up. For the Chargers, pairing him with a quarterback who can feed him the ball consistently could be the spark they need to bounce back.
Of course, nothing’s official yet. But if this deal were to go down, it would be one of the more fascinating offseason moves - one that reflects not just a change of scenery for a star player, but a potential philosophical shift for two franchises trying to find the right formula.