Eagles WR Plan After AJ Brown: Hollywood Brown + a Second-Round Pick
If AJ Brown gets traded, the Eagles aren't replacing him with one player. They're building a layered WR2/WR3 combo behind DeVonta Smith — and the 2026 draft class makes it possible.
The JAKIB Staff
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The Layered Approach
The Eagles aren't going to find another AJ Brown. They know it. You should know it too.
What they can do is build a layered receiving corps that collectively replaces his production — and they've already started. Hollywood Brown signed for $6.5 million, significantly more than the Eagles typically pay a WR3. They also pursued Darnell Mooney before he got $10 million elsewhere.
The message is clear: the third receiver spot is about to become the second receiver spot, and the Eagles are willing to invest accordingly.
The Draft Is Loaded With Receivers
Last year's NFL Draft produced contributing receivers at every level. Second-round picks like Luther Burden and Jaden Higgins are already making an impact. Third-rounders like Isaac Tesla and Pat Bryant contributed immediately.
The 2026 class is no different. The Eagles have already brought in Omar Cooper from Indiana for a 30-visit. Chris Bell from Louisville has the biggest upside in the class — he would have been a first-round pick before tearing his ACL. Zachariah Branch from Georgia and Skyler Bell from UConn are both potential second-round targets.
The Blueprint: DeVonta + Hollywood + Draft Pick
Picture this: DeVonta Smith as the clear WR1, Hollywood Brown as a speed-and-scheme WR2, and a rookie second-round pick developing into the WR3 with upside.
That's not as sexy as having AJ Brown. But it might be more sustainable. Smith is locked in long-term. Hollywood is on a one-year prove-it deal. A rookie comes cheap with four years of control.
Collectively, that trio could produce 70-80% of Brown's output while freeing up $32 million in cap space for the positions that actually need it — edge rusher, safety, offensive line depth.
The Real Question
It's not whether the Eagles can replace AJ Brown. They can't. The question is whether they can build a receiving corps that keeps the offense competitive while reinvesting Brown's cap hit into a more complete roster.
Based on what the front office has already done this offseason — and the depth of this draft's receiver class — the answer is yes. It's not the same. But it might be better for the team.
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The JAKIB Staff
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