Eagles general manager Howie Roseman must have been practicing this one in the bathroom mirror a few times.
When asked about A.J. Brown’s future in Philadelphia on multiple occasions at the league meetings, Roseman had the same answer on repeat for reporters clamoring about the ongoing trade rumors revolving around his stud receiver.
“I understand that there’s interest in the A.J. Brown story. I, unfortunately, don’t have a home under a rock,” Roseman said on Sunday, according to ESPN. “But my answer to any question on A.J. Brown is A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles. From my perspective, anything you ask me about A.J. Brown, I’m going to go right back to that answer. But I understand the interest. I put on the TV, and I see that there’s interest, but my answer is A.J. Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.”
The Eagles have clearly had discussions around Brown during the offseason, and it still appears possible that he is indeed traded this offseason, though that is far from a certainty.
Any trade involving Brown is complicated and will likely need to be completed after June 1.
Brown signed a three-year, $96 million contract in April 2024 with $84 million in guarantees, which apparently still hasn’t scared off the Patriots or Rams, who have been rumored to be involved in trade chatter.
In between Roseman’s repeated assurances that Brown is a member of the Eagles at this very moment, he added his roster construction ideas never changed.
“Roster construction from a macro perspective is going to be based on a vision. That vision doesn’t change by one particular player,” Roseman added.
It’s still a stark difference in response from Roseman, who previously threw some cold water on the idea of trading Brown earlier in the offseason.
“It is hard to find great players in the NFL, and A.J. is a great player,” Roseman said of Brown in January. I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency, in the draft, just trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy.”
The Eagles added Elijah Moore and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown earlier this offseason, perhaps signaling changes at the top of the receiver room, which will bring back familiar face DeVonta Smith.
Philadelphia went 11-6 but was ousted in the first round of the playoffs.
