Players being absent from OTAs isn't always a bad thing, and that applies to one player on the Philadelphia Eagles who won't be in the facilities when things get underway.
Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton looked at the panic meter for notable stars who have been or will be absent from OTAs across the NFL. Moton included Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown on the list, but his panic meter was at a two, and everyone knows why.
"At this point, most expect the Philadelphia Eagles to trade A.J. Brown. The New England Patriots are widely considered to be the favored suitor, given the team's need for a lead receiver and the wideout's history with head coach Mike Vrabel, dating back to their time with the Tennessee Titans. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Eagles want a 2027 first-round pick for Brown, but the Patriots would prefer to give up less than that. Rapoport also dismissed the Los Angeles Rams as a potential trade partner. Brown hasn't been with the Eagles amid trade speculation. Don't expect Philadelphia to move the 28-year-old wideout until after June 1, when his trade dead cap hit drops from $43.4 million to $16.4 million. The Eagles don't seem worried about this situation. They signed Hollywood Brown, traded for Dontayvion Wicks and moved up for Makai Lemon in the first round of this year's draft. None of these wideout additions can replace Brown's production alone, but DeVonta Smith could be the go-to target for a deep receiver group in 2026."
Nobody is worried about A.J. Brown missing Eagles' OTAs
Brown being at OTAs would actually create more headlines and would be an even bigger distraction for the Eagles. It's going to be good for him to not be in the facility with all the trade rumors swirling around him.
The Eagles are expected to trade Brown to the New England Patriots after June 1, so Philly can save $7 million against the cap and take 50% less of a hit on the dead cap. There wouldn't really be a point in Brown being in Philadelphia if he is just going to be traded in the next week or two.
Plus, the Eagles have so much talent at receiver now that they have replaced Brown already. DeVonta Smith is taking over as the number one receiver, and rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon is Brown's replacement on the offense. Even though Lemon will be in the slot, physically, Dontayvion Wicks is taking Brown's outside receiver spot.
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In about a week, Brown will be in Massachusetts, and Eagles fans can move on from the storyline, but for now, they are focused on the team's participation in OTAs.
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