The Philadelphia Eagles entered the opening round of the NFL Draft in search of a playmaking receiver. And on Thursday night in Las Vegas, they happened to find one who wasn't even a member of the 2022 prospect class. In a move that sent shockwaves across the league, the team acquired Tennessee Titans star wideout A.J. Brown, in exchange for the 18th and 101st overall picks.
But the blockbuster trade didn't end there. The Eagles also reportedly locked up the 24-year-old receiver, signing him to a four-year, $100 million extension that includes $57 million guaranteed. Brown was entering the final year of his rookie deal -- slated to earn just $3.9 million in base salary -- and intended to hold out until receiving a lucrative contract. Now the Pro Bowler has his cash, and the Eagles have a new elite pass-catcher.
"If I'm Derrick Henry, I'm forcing a trade, I'm asking out. I just don't want to be part of this Titans team anymore if you don't have A.J. Brown," Zach Gelb said during CBS Sports Radio's NFL Draft show on Thursday. "When I evaluate this trade, I love what the Philadelphia Eagles did, getting their young quarterback another weapon... Heck of a job by Howie Roseman. But if you're Tennessee, this sends a horrible message to your locker room..."
"Year after year, the Titans have done the same thing. Never looked at them except for just falling apart," JR said. "They were cheap. That's it... So what they did, they got another receiver on a controlled contract out of Arkansas... They'll be okay. I don't want to blow this out of proportion. They still need to move on from Ryan Tannehill. They're going to continue to fall apart over the next few seasons, but the Titans weren't going anywhere, anyway...
Brown, who was selected 51st overall by Tennessee in 2019, has emerged as one of the league's best young pass-catchers. Over the past three seasons, he's amassed 2,995 receiving yards with 24 touchdowns, and produced two 1,000-yard campaigns. In 2021, he played in only 13 games, finishing with 63 catches for 869 yards and five scores. According to Spotrac, Brown's market value was $91 million across four years.
Philadelphia's mammoth trade pairs Brown alongside wideout DeVonta Smith, who was a first-round pick in the 2021 draft. Both players will catch balls from third-year signal-caller Jalen Hurts, who recorded 3,144 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 15 games last season. The 23-year-old also showcased his dual-threat abilities, rushing for a team-high 784 yards on 139 carries with 10 scores on the ground.
Gelb and JR's complete thoughts on the Eagles' blockbuster trade for Brown can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb, the JR SportBrief show on Twitter @JRSportBrief, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.