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From Broadway to Broad Street...

The dust has settled so here is some insight into how former Titan A.J. Brown went from being "not on the trading block" to now an Eagle.

Dianna Russini

Apr 30

The city of Philadelphia was feeling gloomy on the last day of April about its injured superstar, 76ers center Joel Embiid, during these NBA playoffs, and bummed that the Phillies allowed the New York Mets a historic second no-hitter against them on Friday, but at least they have the Birds. Over a 24-hour period, the Eagles were the winners in this sports-obsessed city. The team executed a blockbuster trade for Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown on the opening night of the NFL Draft, giving the wide receiver hungry team the star they have been searching for.

How did we get here?

At 24 years old, Brown was entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Titans that would have paid him around $4 million in 2022. More than a month ago, his representatives informed the Titans organization that he wanted a massive contract extension. Brown wasn’t at any of the voluntary offseason workouts, and I was told he cut off communications with his position coach and the rest of the coaching staff. After multiple conversations with sources close to Brown and the Titans, Brown wanted guaranteed money close to $80 million. By the way, I was told this was after he requested a trade from the Titans. It was reported that San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel, the other 2019 wideout who wants a massive new contract, requested a trade, but hearing Brown had also made that request is new information. Remember the players share the same agent.

Brown told ESPN’s Turron Davenport after the trade: "This wasn't my fault. I wanted to stay, but the deal they offered was a low offer. The deal they offered wasn't even $20 million a year." Brown said the Titans' offer topped out at $16 million per season with incentives that would have driven the deal up to a $20 million average. A source shared with me that the Titans’ offer was better than that, but wouldn’t share the actual numbers. Either way, it doesn’t matter at this point, because in the end, the team’s offer was just not good enough. A source texted, "The gap was too far to bridge.” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was able to knock out the trade and give Brown a four-year, $100 million extension. The GM said his quarterback, Jalen Hurts, had been in his ear for weeks telling him to go after his best friend Brown. He did just that. It would appear this trade had been in the works for days, especially considering the contract also was agreed to, but I was told, "it truly all came together on Thursday.” As it was explained to me by a Philly source, the easy part was the trade terms...the hard part was getting the extension done. A source with the New York Jets told me they also poked around on a trade for Brown last Monday, but it never picked up any steam.

The shock.

The news of the trade broke while the Los Angeles Chargers were on the clock at 17, and what made this trade outrageous to the millions watching the NFL Draft Thursday night (see Field Yates’ reaction), was the Titans’ public, on-the-record display of commitment to Brown. It’s one thing to compliment a player and say you want him on the team. It’s another to go out of your way to profess your love. The Titans made it seem like there was nothing that would get in their way of keeping No. 11.

Earlier in April, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said Brown would not be traded, "as long as I'm the head coach." At the league meetings in March, the 2021 Coach of the Year was asked about Brown, and he went personal saying: "I've watched the father he has become, and nothing makes me prouder than seeing that. Obviously, he is a fantastic player, but it is the person that I've grown to really care about, and those are the types of guys that you want to draft, and then ultimately have on your football team as long as I'm around.” Titans GM Jon Robinson consistently said the deal was getting worked on and they would bring Brown back. This isn’t how the Titans talk about ANY player. There was no reason for Titans fans not to trust this, until it all fell apart. This situation felt personal and yet, Brown is now learning the lyrics to "Fly Eagles Fly.”

Brown, who was emerging as a top receiver in the league and leader of the Titans, who were the No. 1 seed in the AFC last season, told me Friday morning: "Part of me is sad that I’m leaving friends and relationships that I’ve built over the years. But I am excited that I get to play with my best friend [Eagles QB Jalen Hurts].”

Why not pay the man?

Fans in Nashville continue to raise the question: "Why would the Titans not be willing to keep their own and pay the 24-year-old who hasn’t even hit his prime years?” When you start to take a closer look at the team’s roster you can’t miss the blinding contract of quarterback Ryan Tannehill. His cap hit for 2022 is $38.6 million; that is the largest of any player in the NFL. The Titans would have to eat close to $19 million if they cut the quarterback before 2023. Then they have the contracts of outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who was picked up in free agency last year with a high price tag, along with the focal point of their offense, running back Derrick Henry, who comes with a pricey deal, along with a heavy contract for tackle Taylor Lewarn. They recently locked up outside linebacker Harold Landry on a five-year, $87.5 million deal. You see what’s going on here. Oh yeah, the addition of receiver Robert Woods also piles onto the Titans’ salary cap. Bottom line, the Titans felt now was the best time to trade their receiver in hopes of getting the highest return on investment. The move might sting fans as much as the sting of those three interceptions against the Bengals in the playoffs that bounced them from the tournament, but this will be one of those moves that will be cut and dried.

When we look back on this, will we be saying this was the best move of the JRob-Vrabel chapter, or will the move cost them success in seasons ahead?

I don't know what will happen but I can guarantee this.

The Titans will never talk about their commitment to another player like this ever again, maybe a good lesson for the entire league.

Titans fan Sheryl Crow knew what she was saying when she sang "The first cut is always the deepest".

Posted

"Cause when it comes to being lucky, she was cursed
When it comes to loving me, she's worst."

Eagles in a nutshell.

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