It remains unlikely that the Philadelphia Eagles will make A.J. Brown available before the NFL trade deadline on November 4. While a trade is improbable, Brown being on the move cannot be entirely ruled out. The star receiver has had an inconsistent season, and his lack of targets has become a distraction the Eagles must manage, an outcome far from ideal. There's been some speculation that the Pittsburgh Steelers could pounce.
A recent article by CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin outlined several mock trades that could pressure the Eagles into considering trading their star receiver.
The Eagles have plenty of offensive weapons and might be able to overcome the loss of Brown. Philadelphia wants to win another Super Bowl, and if they receive the right price to remove a locker room distraction, they may pull the trigger.
Pittsburgh would love to add Brown to its roster, but it does not seem likely. They have already invested in DK Metcalf as their top receiver and are struggling to get him enough targets. If Brown joined the team, he would want to be the primary offensive weapon, but with Metcalf in the fold, that is unlikely. Brown would be a massive addition, but it probably will not happen.
The Pittsburgh Steelers would be crazy to pay an steep trade price for WR A.J. Brown
The mock trade proposed by Benjamin would certainly force the Eagles into considering this move. Why would Philadelphia not agree? They would gain a solid receiving tight end under contract control, a reliable starting edge rusher, and a third-round draft pick. With all due respect to the CBS Sports writer, this seems like an excessive price for the Steelers to pay.
This potential deal would make more sense for Pittsburgh if Philadelphia considered accepting only one of Alex Highsmith or Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers cannot afford to give up both players plus a high-value pick like a third-round selection.
Brown is a special talent, but he comes with a high cap hit, and his diva-like qualities do not make him an appealing addition to a locker room that has not seen many distractions this season.
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Pittsburgh currently has no reason to consider adding a receiver at such a steep cost. They are coming off a tough loss against an average Cincinnati Bengals team and face a challenging two-week stretch before the trade deadline. The Steelers must prove they are contenders over the next two games or risk failing to convince their general manager to improve the roster.
At the end of the day, the mock trade created by Benjamin demands too high a price for adding Brown. He is a terrific receiver, but he would be traded because of his limited role on offense. Joining the Steelers’ offense likely would not resolve those issues.
If Pittsburgh calls the Eagles to inquire about Brown’s price and receives this deal, they should laugh and hang up the phone.