Saints should avoid A.J. Brown trade until June

By Ross Jackson

Not every big name that might be disgruntled with their present situation automatically qualifies as a trade candidate. Nor is every disgruntled player that could get traded automatically a fit for 31 other teams. That’s why the New Orleans Saints should avoid any potential trade talks around Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.

While there’s been no confirmation from Brown or the Eagles that there is friction in the relationship between the two, a sideline shouting match between Brown and head coach Nick Sirianni drew a lot of eyes as the Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention during Wild Card weekend.

Should there truly be a rift between Brown and his coach or Brown and the team, many will start to view the three-time Pro Bowl wideout as a potential trade target for teams. In the process, the Saints would likely be linked as a team ripe to pursue.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore helped lift Brown and the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory to cap off the 2024-25 season, and the receiver outpaced his 2025-26 performance with Moore calling the offense. 

The Saints are also a team that would benefit from a quintessential X-receiver type to pair with Second Team All-Pro receiver Chris Olave.

However, the Eagles wideout is unlikely to be on the move without some serious contract renegotiation and, even then, might not be the best fit for the Saints.

Brown’s Contract Isn’t Tradeable

While the receiver’s contract lacks a no-trade clause, the finances would make the deal very unsavory for Philadelphia. The Eagles have the most borrowed money in future years of any NFL team by restructuring contracts at a high rate. Currently, they’ve borrowed $452 million through 2031.

You’d think all that borrowed money would at least get you out of the first round. Nope. The Eagles gambled this season and pushed a lot of their expenses into void years, and it did not go as planned. That’s a shame. pic.twitter.com/c9Q7fGomUR

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) January 12, 2026

Trading Brown would result in another $43.5 million of dead money to their books. This is a different number than borrowed funds, but would be an added complication to their salary cap situation. A pre-June 1 trade would also result in a loss of $20.1 million against the Eagles’ 2026 salary cap.

The Eagles would have to absorb the fourth-largest single-season cap hit in NFL history, per Spotrac, in order to trade their top wide receiver.

The acquiring team would also take on $26 million in guaranteed salary for 2026 with another $4 million in 2027 becoming guaranteed this upcoming March. It would effectively lock a team into a two-year $50 million deal out of his remaining four-year, $113 million contract. Not an ideal situation for either side.

New Orleans Can Spend Draft Capital More Wisely

In order to land Brown, the Saints would have to ship off some meaningful draft capital. In doing so, they’d acquire a receiver headed into his age 29 season and funnel money into the position wherein the team is also in negotiation for its top pass-catcher to remain in New Orleans. That wouldn’t be a strong look or use of resources for the Saints.

Instead, focusing the cap spending on one top player at the position and using the draft capital on players that will be cost-controlled upon entering the league by drafting talented rookies would be a much more advantageous path for New Orleans.

Drafting a top-tier wide receiver this year could provide the team with what they are looking for at the position without murkying the waters with Olave’s negotiations. It would also put the Saints in position to stagger large deals, building out a responsible fiscal plan while still adding playmakers and impact contributors.

What About After June 1?

Brown becomes much more tradeable for the Eagles after June 1. However, they would have to be willing to pass on receiving 2026 draft capital in that case and instead receive 2027 considerations. At that point, New Orleans will have invested its current draft assets and have a clear path forward with its salary cap maneuvers, contract talks and more. 

At that time, if a top-flight wide receiver is needed, the Saints would be freely able to play ball and could do so with a better understanding of their situation and what lies ahead for the franchise.

If New Orleans is going to get into any A.J. Brown sweepstakes, they’d be best doing so after the June 1 deadline passes.