The Philadelphia Eagles have generally done a terrific job of paying players what they’re worth going forward and not based on prior production. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, though, argued the Eagles missed on wide receiver A.J. Brown.
On a list where he named the most overpaid player on each NFL team, Gagnon picked Brown for the Eagles.
“Jordan Davis is certainly overpaid based on his position and production, but that contract is friendly in the short term and he has room to grow,” Gagnon wrote. “So instead we’re calling out Brown, who signed a three-year, $96 million extension two years ago and has not matched his earlier peak production since.
“He barely reached 1,000 yards in 2025 and has a top-10 AAV and cap hit entering 2026. Throw in the tension surrounding his situation within the organization, and this is a no-brainer.”
It’s important to note that Gagnon had to pick someone as his “most overpaid player” for each team. As much as Brown was a “no-brainer,” the BR analyst still considered Jordan Davis for Philadelphia
Still, “most overpaid” is not typically a title NFL players want to be close to earning.
Brown’s contract could change if the Eagles trade him this offseason. Brown has been at the center of a lot of trade rumors this spring.
But as of March 27, the wideout will have a $23.39 million cap hit this upcoming season. The Eagles have Brown under contract through the 2029 campaign.
Brown made second-team All-Pro for the Eagles each season from 2022-24. In those first two seasons, Brown eclipsed the 1,450-yard mark.
Last year, the Eagles wideout had 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns.
A.J. Brown Called Most Overpaid Eagles Player in 2026
It might be fun to hear from NFL players if they’d prefer pundits to consider them overpaid or underpaid. Overpaid implies they aren’t fulfilling their expectations while underpaid indicates the players are not capitalizing on their career from a financial perspective.
Brown’s average annual salary of $32 million is ranked eighth among wide receivers entering the 2026 season. But last season, Brown was tied for 18th in receiving yards among wideouts. He was also tied for 13th with 78 receptions.
Brown actually caught more passes in 2025 than the prior season. But he had more targets and still had fewer yardage.
In other words, his efficiency plummeted. A lack of chemistry between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts appeared to be a major reason for the decline.
During 2024, Brown averaged 16.1 yards per reception.
That chemistry was never fixed last season and is at least partially why the Eagles are shopping Brown on the trade market this spring.
Will the Eagles Trade Brown Before 2026 NFL Season?
Brown remained with the Eagles through the first three weeks of NFL free agency. But that doesn’t mean he will stay in Philadelphia for 2026.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that a Brown trade is likely on hold. That’s because the Eagles will have a much more favorable salary cap situation with the receiver if they trade him after June 1.
If Brown is dealt before June 1, the Eagles will accept a $43.44 million dead cap hit according to Over the Cap. That dead cap hit drops to $16.35 million after June 1.
Pundits have floated multiple potential landing spots for Brown, most notably the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.
Should the Eagles trade Brown, they will shed at least part of the contract that makes the receiver overpaid.
Eagles’ A.J. Brown Called out Amid NFL Trade Rumors