AJ Brown’s Future Hanging on $20 Million Dead Cap Hit After Eagles Sign Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown

The Philadelphia Eagles are still looking for potential suitors to engage in a trade for star wide receiver AJ Brown.

AJ Brown’s Future Hanging on $20 Million Dead Cap Hit After Eagles Sign Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown

AJ Brown and Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown (Image via Underdog NFL/ML Football/X)

In Short
  • AJ Brown's future with the Eagles is uncertain amid trade discussions and his frustrations with the team's offense.
  • The Eagles could reduce AJ Brown's dead cap hit from over $40 million to below $20 million by trading him after June 1st.
  • Philadelphia has signed Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown to a one-year deal, indicating preparations for a potential AJ Brown departure.

No matter what the Philadelphia Eagles say, there is no doubt that AJ Brown will have his name dragged in trade discussions throughout this offseason.

It so happens that his frustrations with the team and the manner in which they executed their offense last season were enough for him to possibly seek greener pastures.

The wide receiver still holds a major cap number on his current team, which leaves him with not too many options, as that salary will drive potential suitors away.

However, there is a caveat that the Eagles are likely banking on as the days go by, as explained by ESPN’s lead NFL Insider, Adam Schefter, when he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show.

If the Eagles would have traded AJ Brown before June 1st, Philadelphia would have taken a dead cap charge north of $40 million for this upcoming season. If they waited after June 1st, the dead money incurred would drop below $20 million for the upcoming season, as it will split between this and next year.

Adam Schefter said

When show panelist Ty Schmit asked if the Eagles were also waiting for draft picks, Schefter pointed out how the franchise would prefer it if a team gave them 2027 or 2028 picks.

The draft class this year is not exciting enough for the Eagles to spend draft picks on players who might not even make their current team. Therefore, any trade for AJ Brown will have to wait, both for financial and draft capital reasons.

Adam Schefter does not believe teams have shown enough interest in AJ Brown

While trading AJ Brown would solve some of the locker room issues the Philadelphia Eagles have been plagued with for the past year, Adam Schefter does not believe it will be easy.

AJ Brown has to wait to know about his future
AJ Brown has to wait to know about his future (Image via Awful Announcing/X)

I still would lean towards an AJ Brown trade, because I think that that’s what he would prefer. But the Eagles are not going to be in the market to just give him away. There has to be a team out there that’s willing to go make it happen. Right now, that has not been the case.

Adam Schefter said

The insider’s words indicate that teams have not yet made a move to trade for AJ Brown. In the past, he has made references to how he grew up admiring the New England Patriots.

That franchise has not made a proper move yet, even though they released veteran receiver Stefon Diggs to create cap space. However, it seems the Eagles are preparing themselves to lose their No. 1 receiver and have already made moves to hedge their loss.

Eagles sign Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown to a one-year deal

Whether AJ Brown moves out of the Philadelphia Eagles’ facilities or not, the franchise is not waiting for hell to freeze over. Before anything happens, the organization has locked up another receiver.

The Eagles are signing former Chiefs WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to a 1-year, deal worth up to $6.5M, multiple sources tell me.

Jordan Schultz revealed on X

The dynamic receiver’s statistics last season may not impress anyone, as he only managed to amass 587 in 16 games. He started just six of them, which indicates that he was down on the Chiefs’ pecking order.

However, signing the 28-year-old to a $6.5 million deal is good business again from GM Howie Roseman, as Brown can take the pressure off DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. He may not be the perfect replacement for AJ Brown, but extra production from an experienced receiver for that little money on a one-year prove-it deal was probably too good to pass up.

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