Rams confirm trade rumors about Davante Adams, Eagles' A.J. Brown

Reports from earlier in the offseason suggested that the Los Angeles Rams looked into acquiring wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles and trading away veteran wide receiver Davante Adams. 

It sounds like those whispers were spot on. 

Eagles, Rams had "talks" about A.J. Brown

During a Monday appearance on the "Pro Football Talk Live" program, Rams general manager Les Snead confirmed that he and the Eagles previously discussed a potential trade involving Brown. 

"We chatted with Philly," Snead explained. "Nothing worked out. There were talks, we had discussions, didn’t work out. That happens."

While Brown signed a three-year, $96M contract extension with $84M in guaranteed money in the spring of 2024, the Rams signed Adams to a two-year contract that could have been worth up to $44M last offseason. Back on March 14, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the Rams "tapped out of the talks" with the Eagles about Brown. 

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is seemingly in no hurry to trade Brown, as such a transaction may not be finalized before June 1 for reasons related to the salary cap. Reports throughout the offseason have said that Roseman wants a first-round draft pick and a second-round choice in return for Brown. 

What the Rams told Davante Adams about the trade rumors

Both Snead and Rams head coach Sean McVay acknowledged that they were upfront with Adams about the conversations that had taken place behind closed doors. 

"As soon as any of those discussions take a certain level, we should definitely make that phone call," Snead said about the Rams' handling of the Adams-related rumors. "I think all players appreciate the transparency."

According to ESPN's Sarah Barshop, McVay said on Monday that the Rams decided that trading Adams wasn't "best for our team" this offseason. McVay also seems confident that the working relationship involving the Rams and Adams will be just fine. 

"There's a lot of stuff that's out there that's not accurate, but when there is at least some accuracy or some thought to it, you want to deal with that direct, honest and open," McVay said about reaching out to Adams regarding the trade rumors. "And there's been instances where I wasn't as good about that in previous years, and so I don't want to make those same mistakes. And he's a grown man, and I think he understood that this is a part of this business, but I think what he also understood is at the end of the day, you're a Ram because this is what's best, and I'm excited to move forward with him."

As it pertains to Brown's future, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated is among those who seem convinced the 28-year-old will ultimately end up with the New England Patriots before training-camp practices get underway later this summer. During a Monday chat with Mark Daniels of MassLive, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel/de facto general manager Eliot Wolf didn't slam the door shut on a future trade for Brown.