5 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I take it as - if someone is dumb enough to give us a 1st and a 2nd/3rd, AJ is gone and we have to deal with the extra ~$20mm cap hit. If we don't get that by the start of the league year, we're going to spend like he's staying (likely making moving him impossible pre June 1). Basically, either someone overpays by March 11 or it's not happening.

I agree, but the thing that has always stuck with me is it benefits the Eagles in no way trading him. In fact it objectively hurts them. It hurts them on the field, it hurts them cap wise. They incur dead money on top of the cap hit. I don't think they'd even remotely be considering just because "AJ Brown is miserable in this offense." That is not reason enough to justify all the drawbacks.

So I've felt from day one that if they were to decide to do this, then it has to be one of three things:

-AJ Brown flat out demanded a trade or else he's going to be a problem. I think this is less likely I don't think he's that kinda guy and I think the messaging would be different if he was being an ass about this.

-Jeff Lurie wants to continue his trend of cutting down on the amount of cash he's spending to continue last year's trend. I also consider this less likely because they will be spending a lot of cash going forward and that's a lot of dead money to eat that would take the shine out of any cash savings. Plus the cap hit on top of it.

-The Eagles view him as a declining player that if they try to trade him in a year his price will drop dramatically. Not sure how likely this is, but I think it's more likely than the above two. But I think if they truly believe in this offensive system and how it could unlock talent, then if anything AJ could have a bounce back year.

But this has been odd from day one. I've said it before, but it's exceedingly rare in the NFL for star players to not get traded for either 1) Contract stalemates 2) Wanting to go where they can win 3) Rift with coaching staff. AJ Brown falls under none of those categories, so if they were to trade him it would be incredibly rare. I can't remember a star player making good money under contract who got traded because "He didn't like the offense" and didn't also carry one of those 3 issues on top of it.

5 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Yea but Howie has to have a sense at this point to what offers he will likely get and what direction it's probably going in. If reports are true and other teams think Howie "is being unserious", I don't know why everything would be as up in the air as Garoffolo and McLane are saying. That's the fishy part to me. It may not be as big of an overpay as initially suggested to complete a trade.

I also think Garofolo may be adding his own speculation there.

I'd be downright SHOCKED if Howie took a deal that is just a 2nd for AJ, after all these reports of demanding a 1st and more. Would show everyone in future trades you can wait him out. It would really be a terrible look and make him look very dumb.

Baldinger said he's not high on this OT class and doesn't think this is the year to get Lane's replacement.

I tend to agree, but feels like the Eagles may panic and force it this year. Or just view it as a position that they want to continually invest in over and over like they do at DL and QB.

9 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

I agree, but the thing that has always stuck with me is it benefits the Eagles in no way trading him. In fact it objectively hurts them. It hurts them on the field, it hurts them cap wise. They incur dead money on top of the cap hit. I don't think they'd even remotely be considering just because "AJ Brown is miserable in this offense." That is not reason enough to justify all the drawbacks.

Getting a cancer out of your locker room can be invaluable.

2 minutes ago, DaBirds said:

Getting a cancer out of your locker room can be invaluable.

He's not a cancer in the locker room. He's one of the most popular players on the team by both players and coaches.

Wow... we could be seeing this at some point with Dickerson and Jurgens though it would be less surprising.

9 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

He's not a cancer in the locker room. He's one of the most popular players on the team by both players and coaches.

Uh huh…

What a bozo contract Roseman did there.

22 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

What a bozo contract Roseman did there.

In order to pay for a talented roster sometimes a can has to be kicked.

Love Njoku, dude is a stud. If he ends up being cheaper than Goedert it's a no brainer to me. Coming off of the season he had they might even be able to get him on a reasonable one year deal which would be ideal.

15 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

The whole AJ Brown thing smells fishy. If they like him as much as they all say, have a plan and vision for him in the new offense, he wants to be here like has been said and the asking price is really a 1st and a 2nd, there should be no problems "budgeting for pending free agents".

I agree it's a confusing narrative. It's like they are a couple that can't afford to get divorced and they're putting on their best face for the kids.

1 hour ago, vikas83 said:

I also think Garofolo may be adding his own speculation there.

I'd be downright SHOCKED if Howie took a deal that is just a 2nd for AJ, after all these reports of demanding a 1st and more. Would show everyone in future trades you can wait him out. It would really be a terrible look and make him look very dumb.

Howie holds the cards here. It's not like they HAVE to trade him, there's a lot of media noise but Howie and team are saying things are good with AJ but they'll always listen to offers.

Howie can tell AJ if he wants a new contract with a new team, be a team player and ball out this season. Everyone can win.

1 hour ago, DaBirds said:

Getting a cancer out of your locker room can be invaluable.

3 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Howie holds the cards here. It's not like they HAVE to trade him, there's a lot of media noise but Howie and team are saying things are good with AJ but they'll always listen to offers.

Howie can tell AJ if he wants a new contract with a new team, be a team player and ball out this season. Everyone can win.

Yep, not sure why people are making this so complicated. The Eagles don't have to trade him and there is certainly no major rush to get it done. This is how basic negotiations work. You ask for the sun and the moon and if someone is willing to give it up you take it. Otherwise, you wait and see what the best offer you can get us as time goes by and asses if it makes sense. Meanwhile I think it's pretty obvious that certain teams are using the media to negotiate with certain comments that have come out recently.

If the reports are true that the Eagles are asking for a 1 and a 2 and the best offer they have gotten is a 2, I would think if a team budges and offers a conditional 2 in 2027 that can become a 1, and a 3rd OR 4th a deal will get done. Usually when things get to this point with a diva WR and especially when their agent is allowed to talk to other teams who might have interest something eventually gets done.

6 hours ago, NCiggles said:

Dean, I think, looked decent when he did play. The bigger issue were his injuries. Campbell had flashes. Dean just played better when he was on the field and understood the defense better. Dean played at an all-pro level. The team just can't afford to keep him and other younger players. If they hadn't re-signed Baun last offseason, keeping Dean would be a priority. Because they did keep him and invested in Campbell, they need to let him go.

In year three and four Dean looked great. He did nothing during his first two seasons and people were calling him a bust. It's amazing how quickly the narrative shifts.

I agree with your last comment. LB with Baun, Campbell, Trotter, and Mondon is good enough and possibly still a strength of the team. Meanwhile they have major needs all over the place and can't afford to allocate legit cap dollars to a LB.

9 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Howie holds the cards here. It's not like they HAVE to trade him, there's a lot of media noise but Howie and team are saying things are good with AJ but they'll always listen to offers.

Howie can tell AJ if he wants a new contract with a new team, be a team player and ball out this season. Everyone can win.

I just think there is a wide difference between always listening to offers vs not being able to know what budget you are working with when FA starts next week. There is a disconnect there. Always listening shouldn't be preventing other operations.

Thanks for 59 DeVonta

Just now, LeanMeanGM said:

Thanks for 59 DeVonta

Definitely have to keep AJ now.

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

Wow... we could be seeing this at some point with Dickerson and Jurgens though it would be less surprising.

There was a younger player that retired last week from the Chargers also. A center I believe.

Teams I could see pursuing Goedert: Titans, Chargers, Jaguars, Panthers.