3 Reasons the Eagles acquisition of A.J. Brown is an absolute home run

The Eagles have literally added an elite receiver overnight.

When was the last time the Eagles had a wide receiver that opposing defenses and their coordinators were terrified of? Is it too much of a stretch to say that was the days that came after Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season?

You remember. We all do. DeSean Jackson had just made his return to Lincoln Financial Field, and he torched Washington, catching eight passes for 154 yards and two 50-yard touchdown strikes? The NFL was on notice, but DeSean got hurt, unfortunately, and that landed him on the injured reserve, somewhere he’d spend a ton of time during his two-year reunion with the Birds.

DeVonta is going to be good, but he obviously needs help, and Brown’s addition doesn’t just give him that in abundance. It gives the Eagles’ offense an elite presence.

In 2020, Pro Football Focus ranked Brown as the third-best receiver in the NFL, stating that he had been “a top-10 receiver in each of his first two years in the league”. The 2021 season was a tough one as he battled injuries for much of the campaign.

He was inactive for Week 4 due to a hamstring issue. A chest injury forced him to the Tennessee Titans’ injured reserve for three weeks later in the season. Still, PFF ranked him as the 14th-best wideout in pro football after the most recent NFL season, stating the following:

"Brown was again one of the most productive wide receivers in the league. His 2.50 yards per route run ranked inside the top 10 among qualifying wide receivers in the regular season. Brown was actually one of eight receivers to record over 2.0 yards per route run in the slot and out wide this season. And he did all that while battling injuries at four different points from the preseason to the regular season’s end."

This isn’t a knock on Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Drake London, or Treylon Burks. Here’s the thing though.  A.J. Brown is better than all of those guys, and Philly just acquired him by simply giving up the 18th and 101st selection.

If you’re excited, that’s perfectly okay. The fact of the matter is this. You should be.