At long last, the NFL's worst-kept secret has come to fruition. The Philadelphia Eagles traded disgruntled star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots — but now what?
Unsurprisingly, the Eagles announced the transaction less than an hour after they were officially allowed to spread his cap hit across the next two seasons. They've ostensibly been staring at the calendar, waiting for June 1 at 4 p.m. ET for months, and resolved the matter as virtually everyone expected.
It's what comes in the wake of the Brown news that Philadelphia fans should focus their attention on. With his situation finally resolved, the club can move forward and address another offseason priority: adding another safety.
Eagles' glaring need for a safety stands out after trading A.J. Brown to the Patriots
The Eagles have yet to adequately replace Reed Blankenship, who left to sign a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Houston Texans in March. His departure created a significant void in the secondary, which Brown's long-anticipated exit brings to the forefront.
Blankenship latched onto the Eagles' roster as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and blossomed into an every-down contributor and team captain. He was a crucial piece of their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. His absence will be felt, especially if reinforcements aren't on the way.
Frankly, the free-agent options leave much to be desired at this point, though in-house alternatives don't inspire much confidence at the moment either. There's a handful of experienced, albeit flawed, veterans still available on the open market. Beggars can't be choosers, and Blankenship cashing in with the Texans put Philly in a tough spot.
Perhaps the Eagles are betting on a second-year breakout from Andrew Mukaba, who showed promise as a rookie. Be that as it may, the 2025 second-round pick is notably returning from a fractured ankle he suffered this past November. Talent and upside aside, is assuming a full-time role overburdening for a young player coming off a serious injury?
Retaining journeyman Marcus Epps on a short-term pact following Blankenship's decision to join the Texans made sense. However, the former is a fine, if not uninspiring, rotational piece who shouldn't be penciled into a starting job for a Super Bowl contender.
Read more: Eagles' Makai Lemon just got the heat turned up on him after A.J. Brown trade
Could the Eagles be willing to give up draft capital to fill Blankenship's shoes? They did acquire extra assets and long-term flexibility by sending Brown to Foxborough, for what it's worth.
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