A majority of Philadelphia Eagles fans are probably tired of hearing the A.J. Brown trade rumors. It's become one of those "crap or get off the pot" situations, where something tangible needs to happen. Either a trade or a renewal of the vows; whatever the front office and Brown see is best.
Brown is undeniably the best wideout on the roster, but Howie Roseman has never struggled in the talent identification department. He's holding firm on his price for Brown because he knows his value, and he believes that with a return of premier draft capital, he could find Brown's replacement.
But some are dragging Roseman for not trading what they perceive to be a clearly disgruntled player who is muddying the team chemistry. Taking a lesser package is semantics to those who believe Brown leaving Philadelphia is the best course of action.
The Miami Dolphins trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, however, should vindicate Roseman.
Jaylen Waddle's trade price means Howie Roseman is right to hold out
After a week of inactivity, the Broncos struck big for Waddle. But they sent a first and third-round pick, and swapped fourth-rounders, in exchange for the veteran wideout. That's a far more premium price than most expected a team to pay for Waddle.
And Waddle isn't in the same stratosphere as Brown when it comes to football.
Although Brown is just over a year older than Waddle, the former has caught 251 passes for 3,538 yards and 21 touchdowns. The latter has caught just 194 passes for 2,668 yards and 12 touchdowns. That production really isn't all that comparable.
It's not just about production, either. Brown is a prototypical "X" receiver that NFL defensive coordinators gameplan for. Waddle has pretty much always been in Tyreek Hill's shadow, so fans can't definitively say that he's even a No. 1 wide receiver.
All that is to say that Roseman can get a better return for Brown than the Dolphins got for Waddle. And numerous reports indicated that Roseman either wanted a first and second-round pick, or perhaps more. That doesn't look as egregious now as some thought it did at first.
Read more: Howie Roseman sends a strong A.J. Brown message with Eagles' new signing
At this point, nobody seems to know what the future holds for Brown. The two sides could mend the fences, and the Eagles could be back in Super Bowl conversations in 2026. But if they do trade Brown, it should be for more than a first and a third-round pick, proving Roseman right all along.