Roseman: “A.J. Brown is an Eagle.”

PHOENIX — During Sunday’s league meetings, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman offered a consistent reply to every inquiry regarding wide receiver A.J. Brown from attending journalists, maintaining a noncommittal stance amidst persistent trade rumors.

“I recognize the significant attention surrounding the A.J. Brown narrative. Regrettably, I haven’t been living in isolation,” he stated. “However, my response to any inquiry about A.J. Brown will consistently be that A.J. Brown remains an Eagle. Irrespective of the question posed about him, I will revert to this precise statement. I grasp the public’s curiosity; I observe the ongoing discussions on television, but my definitive reply is that A.J. Brown is still with the Philadelphia Eagles.”

This particular declaration lacked the forceful tone of his prior remarks, such as his comment in January: “Exceptional talent is scarce in the NFL, and A.J. exemplifies an exceptional player. From my viewpoint, our objective in free agency and the draft is precisely to uncover such remarkable athletes who possess a deep passion for the sport, and he fits that description.”

Brown’s discontent concerning the Eagles’ offensive scheme has been extensively reported, surfacing through enigmatic social media updates or during press encounters over the previous two campaigns, even when the team was performing well.

He chose not to engage with reporters during the concluding period of the season, a decision that aligned with his mid-November discussion on the field with CEO Jeffrey Lurie, where Brown committed to refraining from public grievances.

Throughout a significant portion of the offseason, rumors have circulated extensively suggesting Brown might depart, with the New England Patriots frequently mentioned as the most probable landing spot. Philadelphia has a financial impetus to postpone any formal agreement until at least June 1. A trade executed before June 1 would incur a dead cap penalty exceeding $40 million, whereas a trade after that date would result in a charge closer to $20 million.

Concurrently, the Eagles must proceed with assembling their squad for the 2026 season — a process that remains unaffected by the ambiguity surrounding Brown’s status, according to Roseman.

“From a broad viewpoint, the design of our team roster is guided by a specific long-term strategy. This overarching strategy is not altered by the presence or absence of a single individual player,” Roseman commented.

This offseason, Philadelphia brought in two experienced wideouts, Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore, to complement a receiving corps presently spearheaded by Brown and DeVonta Smith. Moore shares a strong friendship with Brown, a bond formed during their time playing together at Ole Miss; however, Roseman emphatically stated that Moore’s acquisition was largely, if not entirely, independent of his connection with Brown.

“Every action we undertake is predicated on the specific attributes of the athletes themselves. We are not engaging in any actions to extend preferential treatment to anyone. Our evaluations of players are grounded in their potential contributions to the squad,” he remarked.

In 2025, Brown recorded 78 receptions for 1,003 receiving yards and seven scores, marking his fourth season surpassing the 1,000-yard threshold in as many years since joining Philadelphia. He holds the distinction of being a three-time Pro Bowl selection, a Super Bowl victor, and the sole player for the Eagles to achieve multiple campaigns with over 1,400 receiving yards, representing the top two totals in the club’s existence.