AJ Brown is not the only receiver frustrated with the Philadelphia Eagles' offense. As rumors about the 28-year-old getting interest from the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams do rounds, a new report claims that DeVonta Smith is also pretty unhappy with Nick Sirriani and co.
This comes months after Kevin Patullo was fired as the team's offensive coordinator following a forgettable 2025 season. DeVonta Smith frustrated ESPN NFL reporters Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler cited sources to report that Smith, like Brown, is frustrated, but he was not so vocal.
A source told the publication that the WR's biggest issue was the lack of 'layup plays', which include high-percentage, simple, or routine execution plays designed to gain easy yards.
"Every catch, every play is grind-it-out, the receivers have to win," the source said. "He's more of a side conversation guy."
AJ Brown trade update
Earlier this month, it was reported that WR Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown has signed a one-year-deal with the Eagles. The former Chiefs star had 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Brown's best season came in 2021 with the Ravens. He had 91 receptions for 1,008 yards and six TDs.
Meanwhile, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman addressed rumors about AJ Brown. "I understand that there's interest in the AJ Brown story. I, unfortunately, don't have a home under a rock," he told reporters Sunday at the league meetings in Phoenix.
"But my answer to any question on AJ Brown is AJ Brown is a member of the Eagles. From my perspective, anything you ask me about AJ Brown, I'm going to go right back to that answer. But I understand the interest. I put on TV and I see that there's interest, but my answer is AJ Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles."
Roseman gave a similarly guarded statement in January when asked about Philadelphia's plans for Brown, whose frustrations with the offense have been well documented over the past couple of seasons.
"It is hard to find great players in the NFL, and AJ is a great player," Roseman said two months ago. "I think from my perspective, that's what we're going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency, in the draft, just trying to find great players who love football, and he's that guy."
The Eagles are in no rush to deal Brown, who has been linked to the New England Patriots this offseason. Their dead cap hit for trading him before June 1 is more than $40 million, compared to about $20 million after that date.
Brown, 28, averaged 72.5 catches and 1,041 receiving yards in the past two seasons, compared to 97.0 and 1,476 in his first two seasons with Philadelphia from 2022-23.
Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf also downplayed any notion of New England currently attempting to acquire Brown.
"AJ Brown is a member of the Eagles, as Howie mentioned (Sunday). We haven't had any conversations about anything regarding that in a long time," Wolf said Monday on the Up & Adams Show.
