Hurts says Eagles and A.J. Brown relationship remains really good

Jalen Hurts moved quickly to cool the latest wave of speculation around A.J. Brown, saying the quarterback-receiver relationship remains “really good” even as trade talk follows Brown through the Eagles’ offseason program. When asked about the possibility of a trade, Hurts answered with a joke before turning back to football, saying Philadelphia is focused on learning the offense and improving rather than getting pulled into outside noise.

That message landed against a familiar backdrop in South Philadelphia: Brown was absent from organized team activities, including the Wednesday session open to the media, and the absence itself fed the rumor cycle. Brown is not expected to attend voluntary offseason workouts while he waits for clarity about his future, and the contract structure has turned June 1 into the key date for any potential move. Before June 1, a trade would leave Philadelphia with about a $43.4 million to $43.5 million dead-money charge. After June 1, the Eagles could clear about $7.04 million of Brown’s 2026 cap hit and reduce the dead-money burden to about $16.4 million.

The front office has left the door cracked open without pushing Brown out. Howie Roseman said in February that it is hard to improve a team by “subtracting great players,” while Nick Sirianni said he believes Brown wants to remain in Philadelphia and questioned nothing about his desire to be a good teammate. Still, Sirianni stopped short of guaranteeing Brown would be on the 2026 roster, and Brown’s recent comments have done little to quiet the conversation. He has said he thought the offense should let “killers do their thing,” a line that reflects the tension around how often Philadelphia should target him in key situations.

Brown’s frustration has been visible for two seasons, including complaints about the passing game and reported irritation over a perceived reluctance to throw him tight-window passes against zone coverage. NFL insiders have identified the New England Patriots as the most likely landing spot if the Eagles do move him. Saquon Barkley, meanwhile, tried to steady the room at OTAs, saying he is a big fan of Brown and that “the show goes on” when a player is absent.

The reason this keeps drawing attention is simple: Brown is one of the Eagles’ most productive receivers. He caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, his lowest yardage total in Philadelphia but still good enough to lead the team in receptions. He has already produced two 1,400-yard seasons with the Eagles, making any decision on his future a football choice with major public-relations consequences for a team trying to defend its championship expectations without letting rumor outrun reality.