Eagles' Financial Flexibility Enables Trade of A.J. Brown, Despite Significant Cap Hit
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to make significant decisions in the coming months, and one of the key questions on their offseason agenda is what to do with A.J. Brown. The star wide receiver signed a three-year extension worth $92 million during the 2024 offseason, but his unhappy tenure has raised concerns about trading him.
From a financial perspective, trading Brown could be feasible for the Eagles. If he's dealt before June 1, the team would incur a dead cap charge of $43,515,106, while keeping him would result in a cap hit of $23,393,497. However, this is not as daunting a prospect as it initially seems.
In fact, the Eagles have consistently demonstrated an ability to structure player contracts in a way that allows them to maintain flexibility on the salary cap. A key example is Mekhi Becton, who signed with the team in 2024 on a one-year deal worth about $5.5 million. Despite counting for only $2 million on the cap in his first year with the Eagles, Becton's remaining salary would be carried over to the following season due to the NFL's salary cap structure.
This approach allows teams like the Eagles to borrow from future years to expand their current spending ability without incurring interest penalties. The Eagles have employed this strategy with nearly every player they sign, including drafted rookies and players making league minimums.
In Brown's case, his contract extension included a significant dead cap hit on the back end. However, trading him would not be as costly for the team as it initially appears. By moving Brown before June 1, the Eagles would avoid $20 million in cash payouts to him, including $9 million in 2026.
The long-term financial benefits of trading Brown are substantial. Without him on the roster, the Eagles could save over $44 million per season from 2027 to 2029, when he is scheduled to count for a total of $133,121,609 on the cap during those three seasons combined. This represents a significant amount of money that can be allocated towards signing young star defensive players like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
Ultimately, trading A.J. Brown would put a dent in the Eagles' 2026 cap, but the financial benefits and flexibility offered by their salary cap structure make it a viable option. The team's willingness to structure contracts in a way that allows them to maintain flexibility on the salary cap has proven successful time and again, making it likely that they can navigate the challenges of trading Brown without significant long-term consequences.
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to make significant decisions in the coming months, and one of the key questions on their offseason agenda is what to do with A.J. Brown. The star wide receiver signed a three-year extension worth $92 million during the 2024 offseason, but his unhappy tenure has raised concerns about trading him.
From a financial perspective, trading Brown could be feasible for the Eagles. If he's dealt before June 1, the team would incur a dead cap charge of $43,515,106, while keeping him would result in a cap hit of $23,393,497. However, this is not as daunting a prospect as it initially seems.
In fact, the Eagles have consistently demonstrated an ability to structure player contracts in a way that allows them to maintain flexibility on the salary cap. A key example is Mekhi Becton, who signed with the team in 2024 on a one-year deal worth about $5.5 million. Despite counting for only $2 million on the cap in his first year with the Eagles, Becton's remaining salary would be carried over to the following season due to the NFL's salary cap structure.
This approach allows teams like the Eagles to borrow from future years to expand their current spending ability without incurring interest penalties. The Eagles have employed this strategy with nearly every player they sign, including drafted rookies and players making league minimums.
In Brown's case, his contract extension included a significant dead cap hit on the back end. However, trading him would not be as costly for the team as it initially appears. By moving Brown before June 1, the Eagles would avoid $20 million in cash payouts to him, including $9 million in 2026.
The long-term financial benefits of trading Brown are substantial. Without him on the roster, the Eagles could save over $44 million per season from 2027 to 2029, when he is scheduled to count for a total of $133,121,609 on the cap during those three seasons combined. This represents a significant amount of money that can be allocated towards signing young star defensive players like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
Ultimately, trading A.J. Brown would put a dent in the Eagles' 2026 cap, but the financial benefits and flexibility offered by their salary cap structure make it a viable option. The team's willingness to structure contracts in a way that allows them to maintain flexibility on the salary cap has proven successful time and again, making it likely that they can navigate the challenges of trading Brown without significant long-term consequences.
So I'm thinking, Eagles got this crazy situation with A.J. Brown's contract 
. He signed a 3-year deal worth $92 million but now he's not happy 
. They're gonna trade him and it's actually a good move financially 
. Trading him before June 1 is the key here 
. If they do it right, they'll save like $44 million per year from '27 to '29 
. That's some serious cash for other players 
. I mean, who wouldn't want that kind of money? 
. The way Eagles structured his contract is genius 
. They're basically "borrowing" from future years without it affecting them too much 
. It's like having a magic calculator 
. So yeah, trading A.J. Brown seems like the way to go for Philly 
.
but at the same time, it's kinda sad thinking about all the money he's gonna make while we're over here saving up for avocado toast 
like come on NFL teams gotta be smart with their contracts right? they can just borrow from the future and still manage to splurge on some sick new wide receiver signings 
i mean, I know Quinyon Mitchell is looking good and all but c'mon let's get him a real superstar contract 
it's like, they're basically paying for their future self or something 
. And let's be real, they've been masters of structuring contracts in a way that makes them super flexible 
and who knows maybe trading him will lead to some new talent on defense? 
2026 cap situation better be tight tho
. The team's saved over $44 million per season from 2027-2029 - that's like finding extra change in your pockets every week 
️. On one hand, they'll save some serious cash in the future, like $44 million per season from 2027 to 2029... that's a lot of cap space to throw around! 
. Plus, what if he doesn't pan out with his new team? They'll be stuck with some kinda contract that's just losin' value 
. So yeah, I think tradin' him is an option but it's not a done deal... gotta see how it all plays out 
. Plus, they've got a solid track record of making deals work out, so I'm hoping they can make this one fly under the radar 
. It's like when my friend's uncle used to get a decent deal on his old laptop and would sell it for a pretty penny online. The Eagles just wanna get rid of that $92 million extension, but they can make it work by using their "salary cap magic" trick 
. And I'm thinking about how much they'd save in the long run - like, if they could save $44 million per season... that's a lot of cash to throw at young players like Quinyon Mitchell 
.
. They borrow from the future to save cash in the present 
. The Eagles would be like a force to be reckoned with on defense 
.
. It's like a big weight is lifted off their shoulders 
. And the savings? Whoa! $44 million per season? That's a lot of cap space for other players 
. It's like they have a magic wand that makes contracts work 
.
. The Eagles are all about making smart moves, and this one might just pay off big time