The Philadelphia Eagles are in first place in the NFC East and pursuing a second straight Lombardi Trophy, which didn’t exactly scream seller ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline even if A.J. Brown isn’t having the best season of his career.
And general manager Howie Roseman kept things simple when explaining why he didn’t trade the wide receiver.
“When you’re trying to be a great team, it’s hard to trade great players,” he told reporters. “A.J. is a great player. He cares about winning, he cares about his teammates. He is a captain. You just don’t get rid of guys like that.”
While Roseman’s comments make sense, there is a reason there was some speculation surrounding a possible Brown trade.
The three-time Pro Bowler has 29 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns this season, which means he will have his work cut out for him if he is going to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive year.
On top of the declining numbers, the 28-year-old has been rather cryptic on social media multiple times this season:
It reached a point last month that he even had to address it when he told reporters, “I let my frustrations boil over. I didn’t speak to the media. I had a chance to correct my frustrations and I continued to let it boil over. And that’s on me. I take full accountability on that. My message on Twitter wasn’t directed at anyone in the building. And of course, not my quarterback, my GM, nobody. I take full accountability.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last month “the Eagles would be willing to listen to any trade offer, but sources believe Philadelphia would not be willing to part with Brown for anything less than a blockbuster offer, which is not expected to be forthcoming.”
Philadelphia is a better team with Brown on the field. He is someone who can take advantage of single coverage when opposing defenses focus on stopping running back Saquon Barkley, and his presence helps create more favorable matchups for fellow receiver DeVonta Smith.
Trading him would have decreased the team’s chances at winning back-to-back Super Bowl titles, and Roseman understands that.
Perhaps the front office can reassess the situation during the upcoming offseason if Brown’s numbers don’t improve and his fit in the offense becomes more awkward as the season progresses.
For now, though, it would have been shocking if the Eagles traded him Tuesday ahead of the stretch run of the season.
