With a bombshell trade, the Eagles shook up the NFL draft’s first round on Thursday, acquiring standout receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans for the 18th and 101st overall picks.
According to ESPN’s Kimberley Martin, Brown has agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract with the Eagles, which includes $57 million in guaranteed money.
Brown, 24, was in the final year of his rookie contract with the Titans, and his base pay was set to be just under $4 million in 2022.
Brown told ESPN’s Turron Davenport, “This wasn’t my fault.” “I wanted to stay, but the offer they made was too low.”
The Titans selected Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks with the 18th overall pick, despite previously stating that they would not consider moving Brown.
“At the end of the day, we have to make the difficult decisions — I have to make the difficult decisions,” Titans general manager Jon Robinson said.
“There are a number of factors that influence those decisions.” Certainly, funds play a role in making decisions and attempting to maximize value whenever possible. That is the choice we made today.”
Titans coach Mike Vrabel stated, “I love A.J. personally, but I am extremely comfortable with how this went down and how Jon and I were able to navigate.”
“I try to be supportive and make decisions for him.” Unfortunately, we recognize that if we are going to be here for a long time, we will not be able to keep every player we draft and nurture.”
Last season, Brown caught 63 passes for 869 yards and five scores in 13 games. In each of his first two seasons, he eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving, including a 70-catch, 1,075-yard season in 2020, when he hauled in a career-high 11 touchdowns.
Brown will be partnered with DeVonta Smith, the 10th overall pick last year, to form a deadly combo for quarterback Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni remarked, “We’re incredibly happy to have [Brown] on this club.” “He’s a huge guy who’s quick for his size and catches everything.” There isn’t anything projected. For the past three years, you’ve seen him do it in the NFL.”
After the transaction, the Eagles’ Super Bowl chances improved from 50/1 to 40/1 at Caesars Sportsbook. At Caesars, Philadelphia went from 20/1 to 18/1 to win the NFC, and they are now +325 to win the NFC East.
“Really thrilled to get him,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman said, “simply in terms of how [Sirianni] can use him and his vision for A.J. Brown in our scheme and how he compliments the other guys that we have here.”
“As you may or may not be aware, his relationship with our quarterback is one of the most fascinating aspects of his career. “I’m excited to bring him to Philadelphia.”
The Eagles made their second trade of the night with the Brown acquisition. They had moved up to the 13th choice minutes earlier to select Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis, the 6-foot-6, 340-pound defensive anchor of the Bulldogs’ national championship defense.
The Eagles traded the 15th, 124th, 162nd, and 166th overall picks to the Houston Texans for Davis, who wowed the crowd at the scouting combine with an impressive athletic display that included a 4.78-second 40-yard dash, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, the fastest 40 time by a player 325 pounds or heavier at the combine since at least 2006.
In 14 games last season, Davis recorded 32 tackles (five for loss) and two sacks for the Bulldogs.
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In 2021, he only played 38 percent of Georgia’s defensive snaps and was largely a two-down player, taking only 16 percent of third-down snaps. This raised questions about whether Davis is merely a run-stuffing tackle coming into the draft.
The Eagles believe he can be a good pass rusher as well, and that he was only taken off the field so much because of Georgia’s outstanding talent.
