BLG: A.J. Brown Not Expected Back With Eagles for 2026 Season

A.J. Brown's future with the Philadelphia Eagles continues to be one of the biggest storylines of the offseason, and on Wednesday's Birds 365, Bleeding Green Nation's Brandon Lee Gowton made his position clear: he does not expect Brown to be on the roster when the 2026 season kicks off.

A Relationship That Has 'Run Its Course'

'I think this relationship has kind of run its course and I just have a tough time believing that it's going to change,' Gowton said. 'I don't think the equation changes. I don't think some people are thinking of this as, oh, they hire a new offensive coordinator and that fixes everything. I don't think that A.J. Brown was like, Kevin Patullo must go, that is my biggest problem with the offense. That's not how he was feeling.'

Gowton emphasized that while he doesn't want the Eagles to trade Brown in a perfect world, the reality is that keeping a disengaged star receiver hurts the team. 'You're not getting A.J. Brown at his peak when he's out there and he's demoralized, he's not fully motivated,' he said. 'I don't take any joy in that, but I think that's the reality they're facing.'

Impact on the OC Search

Brown's uncertain status is one of several factors complicating the offensive coordinator search. Mike Gill noted that for potential OC candidates, the job looks fundamentally different depending on whether Brown is part of the equation. 'If I'm a coordinator and I come in and I say, hey, I have A.J. Brown, that's one thing. If you say he's not there, now I have to change some things up in my head about whether this job is what I really thought it was,' Gill said.

Gill did note a potential silver lining, pointing to how the Seattle Seahawks were able to get DeVonta Smith comparison target Jaxon Smith-Njigba heavily involved with limited surrounding talent. He argued a creative coordinator could maximize DeVonta Smith's production even without Brown on the field.

A Roster in Flux

Brown's potential departure is just one piece of an Eagles offense facing significant questions. Lane Johnson's future is uncertain following a lingering foot injury. Dallas Goedert is among the outgoing players. Landon Dickerson's status was raised as another question mark. The offensive line, once the team's foundation, has been declining.

Gowton argued that the Eagles will likely need to prioritize cheap offensive talent through the draft, as defensive players like those on their young, talented unit will command significant contracts. Between potential departures of Brown, Johnson, and Goedert, the Eagles could be looking at a very different offensive roster in 2026.

Watch the full episode of Birds 365 on YouTube. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify.