The message coming out of Philadelphia once sounded definitive. A.J. Brown was staying put. Now, that certainty feels less rigid.
According to Peter Schrager on ESPN’s Get Up, Howie Roseman has shifted from calling a trade “absolutely off the table” at the 2025 deadline to signaling he is willing to listen to offers during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
In NFL front offices, even a subtle change in wording can carry weight.
At the height of the 2025 season, speculation swirled after Brown publicly criticized the offense. Despite the noise, Roseman responded with clarity and conviction. That clarity has softened.
Schrager described a different tone from Roseman in Indianapolis. Listening does not mean negotiating. But it does mean the conversation is no longer closed.
Roseman’s history adds context. He engineered the 2022 draft-night deal that brought Brown from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles. Around the league, he is known for staying aggressive and exploring value whenever possible.
The Eagles’ salary cap reality
Financial logistics complicate any potential move.
ESPN salary cap reporting indicates that trading Brown before June 1 would create roughly $40 million in dead cap. A post-June 1 trade would still result in approximately $43.4 million in dead money. Releasing him would push that figure to about $72.4 million.
While Brown has no guaranteed money beyond 2025, the short-term cap impact remains significant. That reality likely explains why this is framed as listening rather than actively shopping.
“There is a difference in tone from the trade deadline when Howie Roseman said to everybody, ‘Absolutely, off the table, we’re not trading AJ Brown,’ to here in Indy, where he’s almost saying, ‘Well, I’ll never just say it not to listening to offers…
AJ Brown?s production remains elite
On the field, Brown continues to deliver. He finished the 2025 season with 78 receptions, 1,003 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Since entering the league in 2019, he has recorded 1,000-plus yards in every season except 2021. He was also instrumental during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning 2024 season alongside quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley.
“Howie Roseman, this time of the year, is always listening. That’s his mantra. Offer me what you got. Truth to matter, it is cost-prohibitive to trade him before June 1. That’s a $40 million dead cap hit to their financial barrier here to the AJ Brown trade.
Head coach Nick Sirianni previously addressed Brown’s situation, stating he wants the receiver to remain in Philadelphia and describing him as a great player and teammate. Barkley, speaking on ESPN’s NFL Live, dismissed rumors connecting Brown to the New England Patriots, framing them as more playful speculation than substance.
Across the NFL, elite receivers command premium trade returns. Recent blockbuster moves involving stars like Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams have reshaped expectations around value at the position.
That league-wide market context naturally raises Brown’s appeal.
A delicate offseason ahead
The Philadelphia Eagles are balancing performance, personality, and payroll in a competitive NFC landscape.
Compared to last offseason’s firm declarations, this year feels more fluid. Brown remains under contract and remains productive. But the organization has clearly adjusted its posture.
“I think we’re still in a spot where I can’t guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season…
The coming weeks, including free agency and draft planning, will offer stronger clues about Philadelphia’s intentions. For now, the situation stands in a familiar NFL space: not guaranteed, not imminent, but no longer impossible.
Sources: Reporting from ESPN’s Get Up and NFL Live, publicly available salary cap data, official team comments and league transaction records.
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