The Eagles are headed to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, and as they continue to make plans for their 2026 roster, head coach Nick Sirianni and GM Howie Roseman spoke to reporters about potentially trading away A.J. Brown.
Roseman was asked directly if Brown would be back in 2026, and he reiterated comments he made about the situation at their year-end press conference.
Howie: “I’d go back to what I said at the end of the season. It’s really hard to find great players. I think A.J. [Brown] is a great player. I think that from my perspective we’re looking to improve in all areas and you don’t do that by subtracting.”
As he’s admitted in the past, Howie will always pick up the phone and listen to potential offers — that doesn’t mean he’s planning to actually move a player, but he’s always willing to at least listen. The GM said the same is true regarding trading Brown, and proceeded to note that there have been times when they didn’t anticipate making a move, but an offer was too good to turn down.
Howie: “Without getting into specifics on any player, we’re always listening and we’re always kind of open. There’s very few things that I would shoot down without even hearing what that means, because how does it hurt to listen?”
The GM was asked if Brown has expressed a desire to stay in Philadelphia, but Howie quickly shot down the notion he would speak on private conversations. Still, he said their job is to make decisions in the best interest of the team, not individual players.
Head coach Nick Sirianni wasn’t quite as hesitant to speculate on Brown.
Sirianni: “My expectation is he wants to be here and, you know, obviously you want good players like that in your building.”
What the head coach wasn’t more forthcoming with, were his thoughts on how Brown has handled his frustrations. He noted that he’s always communicating with players about things both on and off the field, and makes an effort to set clear expectations. How he handles things will be something he keeps in-house, however.
As for whether the head coach thinks Brown will be back in 2026, his answer was hesitant with a hint of cautious optimism.
Sirianni: “I can’t guarantee how anything’s going to play out into the next season. I can’t guarantee that […] Like Howie said, right, everybody is — it’s hard to get good players in this league. A.J.‘s a great player. And A.J.‘s a good teammate, and A.J.‘s a good person. And so, like I said earlier…Does he want to be here? Yes. And do I want him to be here? Yes. So, you know, hopefully that works.”
This is a decision that will ultimately sit with Howie Roseman, and the Eagles’ GM will need to receive an offer he can’t refuse in order to trade away one of the best receivers in the league.
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