Eagles Tipped To Fill Void Left By A.J. Brown’s Trade To Patriots By Signing 85-TD All-Pro WR
· Yahoo Sports
It may have been the worst-kept secret in the league, but A.J. Brown’s departure from the Philadelphia Eagles felt inevitable given how things had unfolded over the past few seasons before he was eventually traded to the New England Patriots last month.
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The Eagles spent the offseason preparing for the move, adding multiple receivers to ensure Jalen Hurts would still have a potent passing attack. However, replacing a player of Brown’s caliber is no easy task, and one analyst believes Philadelphia could pursue a veteran wide receiver to help fill the void.
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Since joining the Eagles in 2022, Brown had been one of the league’s most productive receivers. He topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four seasons with Philadelphia while catching 32 touchdown passes, recording at least seven scores every year.
Over the last three seasons, that production translated into two top-10 finishes and a No. 12 ranking in 2025 in PFSN’s WR Impact metric. However, with the off-field issues becoming impossible to ignore, the Eagles decided to move on.
They traded for Dontayvion Wicks, selected Makai Lemon in the first round of the draft, signed Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency, and ultimately dealt Brown to the Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
While Philadelphia’s offseason additions are impressive, PFSN’s Cooper Kleinberg believes the team’s outside X receiver role remains unsettled and identified veteran All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins as an ideal fit.
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“While obviously not at the same level of impact as Brown at this stage of his career, Hopkins would offer strong value on third downs and in the red zone for a true Super Bowl contender,” Kleinberg wrote.
Hopkins entered the NFL as the Houston Texans’ first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and established himself as one of the league’s premier receivers. During his first eight seasons, he recorded six 1,000-yard campaigns, earned five Pro Bowl selections, and was named an All-Pro five times overall.
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However, Hopkins’ production has declined in his 30s. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards only once over the past five seasons. Across the last two years with the Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens, the 34-year-old has totaled just 940 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
That said, the Eagles would not need Hopkins to produce another 1,000-yard season. Instead, he could provide valuable depth, serve as insurance against injuries, and give the offense another reliable target on third downs and in the red zone.
With Hopkins entering the final stage of his career and still searching for his first Super Bowl ring, the opportunity to join a contender like Philadelphia on a team-friendly deal could be an appealing option.