One of the more intriguing offseason storylines to keep an eye on revolves around A.J. Brown and his future with the Philadelphia Eagles-a situation that’s starting to gain real traction across the league.
Brown, a cornerstone of the Eagles’ offense since arriving in Philly, has reportedly grown frustrated with his role and the broader dysfunction within the unit over the past few seasons. That frustration hasn’t gone unnoticed. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there’s a growing belief among league executives that the Eagles may be open to fielding trade calls for the star wideout.
“Some executives I’ve spoken with expect the Eagles will at least entertain a trade for A.J. Brown, who is unhappy on numerous fronts,” Fowler said.
Now, before we get too deep into potential landing spots, it’s important to understand the hurdles Philly would face in actually pulling the trigger on a deal. Trading Brown wouldn’t be a simple cap-clearing move.
The Eagles would have to absorb a significant amount of dead money, and then turn around and spend to replace one of the league’s premier receivers. That’s not a small ask, especially for a team trying to stay in contention.
But if the Eagles decide the relationship has run its course-and that the locker room or offensive structure needs a reset-there are a few teams that make sense as potential trade partners.
Let’s start with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ve been searching for a reliable No. 2 receiver to pair with DK Metcalf, and they came up short again in 2025.
With depth concerns throughout the receiving corps, adding a player like Brown would instantly elevate the offense and give Pittsburgh a legitimate one-two punch on the outside. The Steelers also have the cap flexibility and draft capital to make a move, which puts them in a strong position if talks heat up.
Then there’s the Buffalo Bills, who were hoping Keon Coleman could step into the WR1 role this past season. That didn’t pan out.
The team also missed on free agent Joshua Palmer, and outside of Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid, there’s not much in the way of proven pass-catching talent. A.J.
Brown would bring immediate credibility and production to a unit that’s been searching for answers since parting ways with Stefon Diggs.
And don’t sleep on the New England Patriots. After coming painfully close to a Super Bowl win in 2025, the Pats are in win-now mode with rookie quarterback Drake Maye at the helm.
Outside of Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry, Maye doesn’t have many reliable targets. Brown would not only give him a true No. 1 receiver, but he also has a history with head coach Mike Vrabel from their days together in Tennessee.
That connection, combined with New England’s favorable cap situation and draft assets, makes this a very real possibility.
If you’re ranking the most likely fits, New England might be the most seamless. The Vrabel connection matters, and the Patriots are in a position to absorb Brown’s contract without major financial gymnastics.
Pittsburgh isn’t far behind, thanks to their cap room and aggressive offseason needs. Buffalo, while still a contender, might be in the toughest spot financially and would need to get creative to make it work.
The bottom line: A.J. Brown is still one of the most physically dominant receivers in the league.
If the Eagles are truly open to moving him, there won’t be a shortage of suitors. But any team looking to land him will need the right mix of cap space, draft capital, and urgency-because players like Brown don’t hit the trade market often.