$96 million. That’s the amount of money the Eagles were willing to give AJ Brown for three years when they signed him to an extension this offseason.
Since his rookie season in 2019, Brown has had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has scored 46 touchdowns as both the Eagles and the Titans have experienced tremendous team success with Brown as their WR1.
In his three years in Tennessee, Brown helped the Titans make the playoffs every single year, including an appearance in the AFC Championship Game and the No. 1 seed in 2021. Derrick Henry led the league twice in rushing yards and rushing TDs with Brown on the roster and the Titans have yet to make the postseason since his departure.
The Eagles have also made the playoffs in every year that Brown has been on the roster including an NFC championship game. Since their trade for Brown, the Eagles have had a 33-11 record.
Brown’s strength, physicality and speed makes up the player but his results come from a deep desire to be the best the NFL has ever seen. He’s a Hall of Fame-caliber player that burns defenders if they don’t have safety help. He shreds defenses over the middle of the field, he wins 50-50 balls and he’s Jalen Hurts’ No. 1 receiving option.
I asked Eagles writer Mark Wilson about what makes Brown such a matchup nightmare for the Rams and he had this to say.
“Eagles’ success starts in the backfield, however, the presence of Brown on the outside poses a nightmare for the Rams secondary in a one-on-one matchup if the Rams are forced to stack the box. The Rams cannot afford to lose sight of Brown who has the ability to go deep and across the middle.”
With Saquan Barkley in the backfield and Brown on the outside, the Rams are going to witness the puzzle that Brown and Henry posed for three years with the Titans. Barkley is on pace for career-highs this season in almost every major statistical category.
How Chris Shula manages Brown will be examined but if he finds a way to shut down the star wideout, he could elevate himself in the mindsets of general managers around the league.
