When many discuss the most stunning draft day trades of all time, many point to the AJ Brown trade. That trade will go down as one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history. One of the men who made the trade happen is Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman. He recently got interviewed, where the topic came up. He revealed some shocking details about the trade.
They Had the Deal Done Earlier That Day
One of the first takeaways of this trade was the timing of the trade. The Titans and the Eagles had a set agreement for Brown early in the morning. Roseman and Titans GM Jon Robinson knew about this deal happening from the early part of that day. That is pretty crazy to think about.
What is even crazier is that Robinson had this deal done in the morning. While waiting for confirmation, he never talked to the head coach about the deal. Mike Vrabel was angry on draft day, and he knew they got fleeced instantly. This truly was the moment Robinson lost his job as the GM. The Titans have yet to recover.
Why Wasn’t It Announced Until During Draft Day?
So, the delay was for an important reason: getting Brown signed. At the time, Brown wanted a new contract and was expected to get a gigantic raise. A holdout was coming, and if the Eagles traded for him and couldn’t get him signed, that would make the trade look so much worse for them.
A key thing is that if the trade went through early in the day, it is likely the Eagles don’t trade up for Jordan Davis. Thank goodness for that, as Davis is a main piece on the defensive line. Brown’s contract was also getting worked on during the draft. Roseman must have been stressed. Luckily for Philadelphia, at pick 14, they agreed to a contract with Brown, making him an Eagle.
How Howie Roseman Told His Team About Acquiring Brown
When the Eagles were on the clock, Roseman had to tell everyone in the room about the trade. When it gets to pick 18, Roseman said, We’re picking AJ Brown here. Everyone was confused, yet super excited about what had just happened.
Final Thoughts
Roseman truly is a genius with the transactions he has made throughout his tenure. This trade was the Titans’ gift-wrapping the Eagles a Super Bowl trophy, as Brown is one of the main pieces on that offense. The Eagles are one of the best teams in the NFL, and it’s all thanks to Roseman. He has definitely earned being the most valuable Philadelphian for 2025.
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