Nick Sirianni gives curious answer about AJ Brown’s Eagles future as trade rumors swirl

Nick Sirianni left the door open for AJ Brown to fly out of Philadelphia.

While the Eagles coach spoke highly of the talented wide receiver ahead of the NFL Combine and believes both sides want to continue working together, he said he “can’t guarantee” Brown will return for a fifth season with the franchise amid trade rumors.

“Is AJ going to be there next season? I think we’re still in a position, like, I can’t guarantee anything will play next season,” Sirainni said, according to ESPN. “I think I will be a coach next season but you can’t promise anything tomorrow.”

Brown’s future has become a hot topic in Philadelphia following an uneven 2025 campaign that saw him and quarterback Jalen Hurts more often than not on the same page.

The former Ole Miss star caught just 78 passes for 1,003 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns in 15 games, including four games with no more than two catches.

Brown sent a cryptic message after his two-score, seven-yard catch in a Week 4 win over the Buccaneers, and said in November that he was “struggling” between “showing off.”

The 28-year-old then had fun in a recent spot with Patriots legends Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, where the latter two joked about him joining New England and he winked and laughed. However, Brown added that he was “just moving” with his answer.

There’s enough smoke that a trade might seem reasonable, though the Eagles will eat up a lot of cap space if they trade him before June 1 ($43 million in 2026) or after that date ($17 million in 2026, $26 million in 2027) because of the three-year, $96 million extension he signed this season of 2029.

“Yeah, my expectation is that (Brown) wants to be here. And obviously you want good players like those in your building,” Sirianni said, via ESPN.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has repeatedly said that acquiring quality players like Brown is always the franchise’s goal and reiterated that “cutting” out of that mix is ​​not the plan.

However, Roseman, a former trader, did not rule out any potential trade talks.

“I think you go into the league year and listen to what’s being offered for everything and anything,” Roseman said, according to ESPN. “If someone is going to give you something you didn’t expect and you don’t have a conversation anymore, I don’t think you’re doing your job or working for the team you really have.

“You never know what someone is willing to do. Of course, we’ve been in situations where there were guys that we didn’t expect to trade that we got a really good offer, and then you balance that with what you can get there.

“Without getting specific about any player, we’re always listening and we’re always relaxed. There’s very few things I shoot without hearing what that means, because how painful is it to listen?”

Should Brown return, he and the Eagles will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing finish through the 2025 season.

While Philadelphia won the NFC East for the second year in a row, the offensive offense flamed out in a Wild Card loss to the 49ers.

Sirianni demoted offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who later wrestled for the Dolphins, while adding Sean Mannion to handle those duties.

One of Mannion’s main tasks will be to find a way to open up the passing game and get Brown involved more once he’s in Philadelphia.

“Like Howie said, it’s hard to find good players in this league. AJ’s a great player and AJ is a good teammate and AJ is a good person,” Sirianni said, per ESPN.

“Do you want to be here? Yes. Do I want him to be here? Yes.”