Image Source: Jordan Dajani
Key Takeaways
- The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season ended with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild card round.
- A.J. Brown, the Eagles’ star wide receiver, had a disappointing game, catching only three of seven targets for 25 yards.
- Brown’s future with the Eagles is uncertain, and there are speculations about a potential trade.
- Several teams, including the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers, could be potential landing spots for Brown.
- However, a trade is unlikely due to Brown’s contract, which would result in a significant dead cap hit for the Eagles.
Introduction to the Eagles’ Season Ending
The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season came to an end on Sunday with a 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild card round. The Eagles had a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, but two Christian McCaffrey touchdowns in the final 15 minutes gave the 49ers the win. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles had a chance to lead a game-winning drive, but they turned the ball over on downs at the 49ers’ 21-yard line with 40 seconds remaining. As Jared Dubin noted, "Sunday was more than just a star player having a bad game on a big stage, as Brown famously criticized the Eagles offense multiple times this year."
A.J. Brown’s Disappointing Game
A.J. Brown, the Eagles’ star wide receiver, had a disappointing game, catching only three of seven targets for 25 yards. All of his receptions came in the first quarter, and he also registered a couple of notable drops. One of the drops was followed by a heated exchange with coach Nick Sirianni late in the first half. Brown declined to speak with reporters after the loss. As the article stated, "Brown declined to speak with reporters after the loss." This raises questions about Brown’s future with the Eagles, and whether he will be traded.
Potential Landing Spots for A.J. Brown
If Brown is traded, several teams could be potential landing spots. The New England Patriots, for example, could be a good fit. Brown began his NFL career with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, and the two had a close relationship. The Patriots have a talented young quarterback in Drake Maye, and adding Brown to their roster could take their offense to another level. As the article noted, "Gifting Maye a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver with the physical talents Brown possesses would take the Patriots to another level." Other potential landing spots for Brown include the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Why a Trade is Unlikely
However, a trade is unlikely due to Brown’s contract. He signed a three-year, $96 million extension in April 2024, which runs through the 2029 season. Trading Brown would result in a significant dead cap hit for the Eagles, which would be the fourth-largest single-season dead cap hit in NFL history. As Spotrac pointed out, "A pre-June 1 trade means the Eagles would take on the fourth-largest single-season dead cap hit in NFL history, PLUS another $20 million loss in savings." This makes it unlikely that the Eagles will trade Brown, despite his disappointing game and uncertain future with the team.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Eagles’ 2025 season ended with a disappointing loss to the 49ers. A.J. Brown’s future with the team is uncertain, and there are speculations about a potential trade. However, due to his contract, a trade is unlikely. The Eagles will have to decide whether to keep Brown on their roster or try to find a way to trade him despite the significant dead cap hit. As the article stated, "It’s fair to wonder if Brown has played his final season with the Eagles." Only time will tell what the future holds for Brown and the Eagles.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/a-j-brown-landing-spots-eagles-wr-broncos-patriots/
