PHILADLEPHIA – The Eagles spent the entire offseason looking for a star wide receiver to pair with DeVonta Smith.
But as they missed out on those players, either in an attempt at a trade or by signing a free agent, it became apparent that they would have to find that receiver in the NFL draft.
And then, the Eagles swung a deal before their pick at No. 18, getting wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. In return, the Eagles sent the Titans their pick at No. 18 and one of their two third-round picks, at No. 101 overall.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Brown was someone the Eagles were interested in 2019. The Titans took him in the second-round pick in 2019, at No. 51 overall, six spots before the Eagles drafted wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.
“For us, A.J. Brown was somebody that we had studied coming out (of the 2019 draft) and spent a lot of time on, and we had a lot of love for A.J. Brown in that draft,” Roseman said.
Brown has been much more productive than Arcega-Whiteside, who’s converting to tight end.
Brown had 1,051 yards and 1,075 yards receiving in each of his first two seasons before dropping off slightly to 869 yards receiving last season in 13 games.
The Eagles reportedly signed Brown to a four-year extension worth as much as $100 million, with $57 million guaranteed.
Roseman said the decision to trade for Brown had nothing to do with four wide receivers who were taken before the Eagles were set to pick at No. 15, their original spot. The Eagles traded up from No. 15 to No. 13 to take Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
By then, the top four wide receivers were gone. Atlanta took Drake London at No. 8, the Jets took Garrett Wilson at No. 10, the Saints traded up for Chris Olave at No. 11 and the Lions traded up for Jameson Williams at No. 12.
“It didn’t matter – the receivers on the board,” Roseman said.
The way Eagles coach NIck Sirianni sees it, getting someone like Brown is better than taking a chance on a receiver in the draft.
“He plays with great play strength,” Sirianni said about the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Brown. “This guy, this is a strong man. He’s quick for a big guy, and he catches everything. Those are things that really stick out from his tape.
“There’s no projection there. It’s like, ‘Well, this is what he’s going to be in the NFL.’ No, you’ve seen it. You’ve seen it for three years now. And it’s just exciting to put on his tape and watch him.”
The Eagles had tried during the entire offseason to get a star wide receiver to complement Smith. They were interested in trading for Atlanta’s Calvin Ridley before he was suspended for the upcoming season for gambling on NFL games.
They were linked to free agent Christian Kirk before he signed a four-year deal averaging $18 million per season, much more than the Eagles wanted to pay for someone who never had 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The Eagles didn’t trade for stars like Tyreek Hill or Davante Adams, who went to Miami and Las Vegas, respectively, for multiple first-round picks before each signed new contracts worth more than $20 million per season.
Instead, the Eagles traded for Brown and signed him to a contract rivaling those of Hill and Adams. But Brown is much younger, turning 25 this summer. And he gives the Eagles another much-needed weapon for quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Sirianni said he can find ways for Brown, Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert to all get their touches.
“The biggest asset that (Brown) has is the one that’s so vital to the position – if you can’t catch the ball, you can’t play,” Sirianni said. “And this guy catches everything. And so, we can see him on a lot of different routes that fit our offense, that uses that play strength, that uses that quickness, and that’s where he’s so tough.
“You want guys that can win one-on-one matchups. And this guy has shown in the NFL that he will win one-on-one matchups.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
