The Philadelphia Eagles have an impending breakup with three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown. This could open a door for the New Orleans Saints to swoop in and acquire the star player. However, this wouldn’t be wise as the drama off the field and inconsistent play in 2025 isn’t worth the price tag. Instead, they should target a younger, cheaper option in free agency or the NFL Draft.
This move wouldn’t be smart for a few reasons. First off, the Saints would likely need to give up draft capital in a trade for Brown, which wouldn’t make sense for a rebuilding team. Secondly, his disputes with the coaching staff and frustrations about getting the ball could create some conflict.
Brown produced greatly with Kellen Moore as his offensive coordinator, and he would be a major contributor once again with him calling the plays. But the question still persists, is he willing to stay in a similar role he’s currently in, sharing the load with another star like Chris Olave.
Saints don't have to chase A.J. Brown to get the type of receiver they need
Luckily for the Saints, there are some elite options for an X receiver they can choose from this offseason. The best option in free agency is Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce who has 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns on the year. This would be fairly expensive but a valuable acquisition and a weapon for Tyler Shough.
Another way the Saints could address this is during the NFL Draft. There are a number of X receivers they could choose from. Here are a few of the options and their projected round they’d be drafted in:
- Denzel Boston- Washington: Projected first round
- Carnell Tate- Ohio State: Projected first round
- Elijah Sarratt- Indiana: Projected day two
- Malachi Fields- Notre Dame: Projected round three
- Ted Hurst- Georgia State: Projected day three
Any one of these options would complement Chris Olave and be an offensive threat for Tyler Shough. There are plenty more options but these ones stick out as ideal prospects for the Saints.
Overall, a trade for A.J. Brown seems attractive for the Saints, but they should stay away. They can find another cheaper, less problematic player in free agency or the NFL Draft.