Philadelphia’s draft-day blockbuster that sent A.J. Brown from Tennessee to Philadelphia in 2022 is aging like fine wine, and the results are already substantial. Since the trade, Brown has earned his first NFL title and sits near the top of the league in production across the period, posting 4,031 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns—the fourth-most and seventh-most, respectively, of any player in that span. That level of production has helped the Eagles reach the mountaintop twice in a span of three seasons, while Brown has become a cornerstone of their high-powered offense.
In contrast, the Titans have endured a sharp turn from postseason optimism to disappointment. After Brown’s three years in Tennessee, the team missed the playoffs three times in a row and tied a franchise-record with 14 losses last year, a stark reversal from the 14-win, Super Bowl–champion benchmark the Eagles set two seasons earlier.
The origins of the deal—beyond the green room and the draft board—are a compelling chapter in front-office storytelling. Howie Roseman, now in his second Super Bowl-winning campaign as Eagles GM, recounted on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast how the trade came together. He explained that the terms were agreed to in the morning, but the deal hinged on locking in a contract with Brown first. The Eagles began the draft with three first-round picks, traded one for a future pick with New Orleans, and still had two left. Roseman and Titans GM Jon Robinson negotiated in real time on whether the contract could be finalized in time to complete the trade.
“We had to get a contract done first,” Roseman said, noting that several people in the building were unaware of the plan until the last moment. By the time the No. 14 overall selection arrived, the trade was set, and Philadelphia surprised the room by announcing the pick as A.J. Brown—an announcement that would eventually rewrite both franchises’ trajectories.
The draft-day move also carried immediate personnel ripple effects. Tennessee used the pick they acquired with Brown to select receiver Treylon Burks, who later dealt with injuries and a released status. Burks appeared in 27 games over three seasons for the Titans, totaling 53 catches for 699 yards and 1 touchdown before being released after breaking a collarbone in practice and dealing with an ACL issue.
Meanwhile, the Titans’ broader situation led to leadership changes, including the firing of Robinson shortly after Philadelphia defeated Tennessee in Week 13 of the 2022 season. Roseman’s gamble, which seemed audacious at the moment, has proven resilient and, by many measures, successful—an enduring testament to a bold draft-day decision and the timing of a contract negotiation.
From today’s vantage point, the trade’s narrative reads like a well-planned heist that paid off in multiple installments: Brown’s sustained production for Philadelphia, the Eagles’ continued window of contention, and a series of outcomes in Tennessee that have redefined the path of both franchises. The story is as much about timing and communication as it is about talent, showing how a single deal can reshape destinies across an NFL landscape.
Summary
A.J. Brown’s move to the Eagles in 2022 remains a standout example of a high-stakes draft-day decision paying off in multiple dimensions. Brown’s production has been a cornerstone for Philadelphia’s competitive run, while Tennessee’s results dipped in the years that followed. The deal’s behind-the-scenes execution—contract timing, draft maneuvering, and leadership changes—adds a compelling chapter to a long-form story of how one trade can echo through two franchises for years to come.
If you’d like, I can add a brief breakdown of the financials involved in the trade and a quick comparison of how the picks exchanged shaped both teams’ rosters in the subsequent seasons. Positive note: the deal’s legacy is one of bold decision-making yielding tangible on-field success and a memorable origin story for the Eagles’ front office.