Are Eagles planning to select A.J. Brown replacement during 2026 NFL Draft?

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown continues to be the subject of trade rumors leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, which will get underway on April 23.

It sounds like people around the league believe that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman could target a Brown replacement during the upcoming player-selection process. 

Could Eagles trade up to draft A.J. Brown replacement?

For a piece published on Thursday, ESPN's Jordan Reid was asked what he had heard about the Eagles' potential draft plans. 

"Circle the Eagles as a team that could get aggressive in trading up for a receiver," Reid wrote. "Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) is a player to watch, as he could still be on the board in the Nos. 17-20 range. GM Howie Roseman is notorious for drafting replacements for veterans a year in advance." 

The Eagles currently possess the No. 23 overall pick in this year's draft. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted that the Pittsburgh Steelers will grab Tyson at choice No. 21 if he is still on the board. 

It's unclear what Roseman would have to give up to make Tyson an Eagle. 

Many reporters and analysts believe the Eagles will trade Brown after June 1, in part because his working relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts may be damaged beyond repair. Numerous stories have linked Brown with the New England Patriots, but the nature of such whispers could change if the Patriots address the position during the draft. 

Why Eagles may be willing to trade A.J. Brown

"The Eagles view DeVonta Smith as a WR1 capable of thriving with a larger workload and added a couple of complementary veterans in Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore," ESPN's Tim McManus added. 

For what it's worth, Johnny McGonigal of PennLive noted that the Eagles could look to draft either Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) or fellow receiver Denzel Boston (Washington). Via his latest mock draft, Baumgardner predicted that those two playmakers will be on the board when the Eagles are called to spend the 23rd overall pick. 

That said, The Athletic's Zach Berman predicted that the Eagles could select Clemson receiver Antonio Williams in the draft's second round.