Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry stirred the pot a bit this week, making a public pitch to bring Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown to Baltimore. The moment played out on Up and Adams, and while it was all in good fun, it sparked some lighthearted back-and-forth that gave fans a glimpse of just how much respect-and competitive fire-exists between some of the league’s top talents.
Let’s set the stage: Brown, despite finishing the season with 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns, had a quieter year by his standards. Those numbers, while still solid, marked his lowest totals since joining the Eagles in 2022. And while Brown has said he wants to remain in Philly, reports surfaced in January suggesting he had requested a trade multiple times during the season.
Enter Derrick Henry, who knows Brown well from their days together in Tennessee. When host Kay Adams asked about the trade rumors and whether Baltimore could be a potential landing spot, Henry didn’t hesitate.
“Gladly would love to have him,” Henry said. “A.J.’s a dog.
I played with A.J. in Tennessee. L [Lamar Jackson] likes playing with guys with a dawg mentality, so he’ll love A.J.
Come on over. Please.
A.J., come to Baltimore. Let’s go get this ring.
You got one in Philly. Y’all did that.”
Henry painted the picture of a Ravens offense that could get downright scary: himself in the backfield, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman on the outside, tight end Mark Andrews in the middle, and potentially Isaiah Likely if the free agent returns. Add A.J.
Brown to that mix? That’s a unit that could keep defensive coordinators up at night.
But not everyone was ready to let that dream take flight-especially not Eagles rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean. In a surprise twist, Adams brought DeJean out early during the show to respond to Henry’s recruiting pitch.
“We’ve got to keep A.J. Brown in Philly,” DeJean said. “I think he’s all right in Philly right now.”
Adams reminded DeJean that he already got a Super Bowl ring with Brown, but the rookie didn’t flinch: “I need another one,” he said with a grin.
The segment also carried a bit of history between the two players. It marked the first time Henry and DeJean had been face-to-face since their viral moment in the 2024 Eagles-Ravens game-when DeJean made a highlight-reel open-field tackle on Henry, lifting the 6-foot-3, 247-pound back off his feet and planting him on the turf. It was the kind of play that gets replayed for weeks-and remembered for seasons.
Henry, clearly not one to forget either, smiled and said, “I can’t wait to see you on the field again bro.”
While the exchange was playful, it underscored how connected today’s NFL is-on and off the field. Players are fans of each other, recruiters, rivals, and entertainers all at once.
And when names like Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown get tossed into the trade rumor mill, it’s more than just speculation-it’s a reminder of how quickly a team’s identity can shift with one bold move.
For now, Brown remains in Philly, where he’s still a key piece of an Eagles offense that’s built to contend. But if Henry has his way, we could be looking at a Ravens squad that’s not just physical, but downright explosive.