Philadelphia Eagles' A.J. Brown Extension: The Financial Case for Trading Him This Offseason
The Philadelphia Eagles are in a tough spot this offseason, with several high-profile decisions waiting in the wings. And one of those is figuring out what to do with wide receiver A.J. Brown, who signed a three-year extension worth $92 million last year. While some might say that trading him would be too costly due to the significant dead cap charge, Eagles fans need not panic.
Let's take a closer look at just how much this trade would cost in terms of cap hits. If traded before June 1st, Brown's deal would count for $43,515,106 towards the Eagles' cap in 2026, while he'd be playing for another team. Keep that number in mind. Now, if the Eagles decided to keep him on their roster, Brown would only count for $23,393,497 on their cap in 2026.
It's a significant difference, but it doesn't mean that the trade is impossible. The term "dead cap" has become somewhat scary among Eagles fans, but the reality is that high-priced contracts are a fact of life in the NFL. And the Eagles have shown time and again that they can navigate these complexities to come out on top.
Take the case of Mekhi Becton, for instance. Signed to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million last year, Becton's cap hit was a mere $2 million in 2024, while he counted towards the Eagles' dead cap as $3.5 million in 2025. What many might not realize is that the bulk of Becton's cap charges came later, when his salary was spread out over several years.
Think of it like taking out a mortgage on a house. You get to enjoy your new home now, but you pay for its value later. In the NFL, teams can do something similar with player contracts - they get the use of players in the present while paying for their future salaries. The Eagles are masters at this, employing the strategy with almost every single player they sign.
Now, when it comes to A.J. Brown's extension, it's worth noting that his cap hit was relatively low last year ($11,878,894) and slightly higher this year ($17,523,497). While the bulk of those charges will come later, it's not like he's going to be a major burden on the Eagles' cap in 2026.
But here's the thing: trading Brown would free up some serious cap space - $113 million worth, to be exact. That's money that could go towards signing young star defensive players like Quinyon Mitchell or Cooper DeJean, and saving them from taking a massive pay cut down the line.
So while trading A.J. Brown might seem daunting at first, it's not as scary as some fans make it out to be. In fact, financially speaking, it's probably one of the best options for the Eagles. There's just a short window in which Brown can attract a high draft pick in return - so if they decide to make a move, now is definitely the time.
The Philadelphia Eagles are in a tough spot this offseason, with several high-profile decisions waiting in the wings. And one of those is figuring out what to do with wide receiver A.J. Brown, who signed a three-year extension worth $92 million last year. While some might say that trading him would be too costly due to the significant dead cap charge, Eagles fans need not panic.
Let's take a closer look at just how much this trade would cost in terms of cap hits. If traded before June 1st, Brown's deal would count for $43,515,106 towards the Eagles' cap in 2026, while he'd be playing for another team. Keep that number in mind. Now, if the Eagles decided to keep him on their roster, Brown would only count for $23,393,497 on their cap in 2026.
It's a significant difference, but it doesn't mean that the trade is impossible. The term "dead cap" has become somewhat scary among Eagles fans, but the reality is that high-priced contracts are a fact of life in the NFL. And the Eagles have shown time and again that they can navigate these complexities to come out on top.
Take the case of Mekhi Becton, for instance. Signed to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million last year, Becton's cap hit was a mere $2 million in 2024, while he counted towards the Eagles' dead cap as $3.5 million in 2025. What many might not realize is that the bulk of Becton's cap charges came later, when his salary was spread out over several years.
Think of it like taking out a mortgage on a house. You get to enjoy your new home now, but you pay for its value later. In the NFL, teams can do something similar with player contracts - they get the use of players in the present while paying for their future salaries. The Eagles are masters at this, employing the strategy with almost every single player they sign.
Now, when it comes to A.J. Brown's extension, it's worth noting that his cap hit was relatively low last year ($11,878,894) and slightly higher this year ($17,523,497). While the bulk of those charges will come later, it's not like he's going to be a major burden on the Eagles' cap in 2026.
But here's the thing: trading Brown would free up some serious cap space - $113 million worth, to be exact. That's money that could go towards signing young star defensive players like Quinyon Mitchell or Cooper DeJean, and saving them from taking a massive pay cut down the line.
So while trading A.J. Brown might seem daunting at first, it's not as scary as some fans make it out to be. In fact, financially speaking, it's probably one of the best options for the Eagles. There's just a short window in which Brown can attract a high draft pick in return - so if they decide to make a move, now is definitely the time.
like what else are the Eagles s'posed 2 do w/ that much dead space? 
Mekhi Becton was only on 1 year deal & the Eagles made it work. A.J. Brown is making bank but hes still a player, not an owner 
think about the egrets trying to get a decent return on his deal, it's like playing a game of nfl roulette 
... plus, think about all the space they'll have in their cap after trading him, that could be used to sign some real game changers like Quinyon Mitchell or whatever young defensive star they need 
!
! I mean, sure, it's a lot of money upfront, but think about all the other moves you could make with that kind of cap space 
. And let's not forget, Brown's deal is already 3 years in – he's basically done taking up valuable roster space 
. Plus, if they trade him now, he's still got a decent chunk of his contract left 
. It's all about timing, baby! 
think about how much space they could use to sign some younger talent like quinyon mitchell or whatever their other top draft pick is idk 
. it's all about timing and making smart moves, imo 
and you never know what's gonna happen on draft day 
. Plus, you've got to consider the emotional toll of losing a fan favorite like A.J. Brown 
. It's not just about the benjamins, it's also about building that team chemistry and camaraderie 
, especially if they can get a top-notch player in return 
.
But what really gets me is how teams can navigate these things like they're taking out a mortgage. I mean, you get to use the player now, but pay later... sounds kinda weird when you put it that way 
.