Why Would AJ Brown Stay? The Mannion Hire May Have Sealed His Exit

The Question Nobody Wants to Answer

Within minutes of the Eagles officially hiring Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator, the analysis asked the question that should keep Philadelphia's front office up at night.

"Why would AJ stay with a guy who's never called plays?"

It's a devastating question because there's no easy answer. AJ Brown is one of the NFL's premier wide receivers — a player who has publicly expressed frustration with the Eagles' passing attack, which ranked 28th in the league last season. He has every reason to demand a trade, and the Mannion hire may have just given him one more.

The Packers Blueprint: Great for TEs, Bad for WR1s

One of the most insightful observations on Thursday's National Football Show came from a viewer named David, whose comment it was highlighted with genuine enthusiasm.

"Take notice how the Packers don't have a true wide receiver one in their offense. But the run game and tight end are top tier. Eagles are drafting a tight end."

This is the blueprint Mannion comes from. Green Bay's offense under Matt LaFleur is built on a dominant rushing attack and elite tight end play, with receivers functioning more as complements than centerpieces. If Mannion brings that philosophy to Philadelphia, it represents a fundamental shift away from the kind of high-volume passing attack that a receiver of Brown's caliber demands.

Sileo agreed with the assessment, adding: "That means AJ's gone. Probably."

28th in Passing — With AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith

The absurdity of the Eagles' 2025 passing offense cannot be overstated. With two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers in Brown and DeVonta Smith, plus tight end Dallas Goedert, the Eagles ranked 28th in passing offense. That's not a personnel problem — it's a schematic one.

Brown has already endured three consecutive years of declining passing production under the Sirianni regime. Every coordinator change has promised a fresh start, and every fresh start has produced the same stale results. At what point does a competitor like Brown simply decide he's had enough?

The Trade Market

The Eagles can't make trades until March 11th — a point Sileo was quick to make when callers started speculating about Brown's departure. But the offseason is long, and Brown's trade value remains significant.

During the show, Kraus floated a hypothetical of Brown plus a draft pick for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby — the kind of blockbuster move that would signal the Eagles are going all-in on a run-first, defense-dominant identity under Mannion.

Whether Brown stays or goes, the Mannion hire sends a clear message about the Eagles' offensive direction: this is a ground-game-first, tight-end-centric offense that prioritizes ball control over explosive passing. For a receiver who wants the ball thrown his way 10 times a game, that's a tough sell.

The Bottom Line

If the Eagles are indeed pivoting to a Packers-style offense under Mannion — emphasizing the run game, featuring tight ends, and treating wide receivers as complementary pieces — then keeping AJ Brown makes less sense with each passing day.

And if Brown is paying attention to who's calling the plays? He's seeing a coordinator who has never called a single one. That's not the kind of resume that inspires confidence from a franchise receiver who already has one foot out the door.

"I'm Switzerland on this hire. But the last two inexperienced hires bombed. Remember I said that on January 29th."

As heard on The National Football Show with the analysis, airing daily on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.