Since the Jacksonville Jaguars hired James Gladstone as their general manager, they haven't been afraid to take bold swings. However, they've steered clear of major moves this offseason. This could change soon, as rumors are rampant that the Jags could trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Jason La Canfora first reported that Jacksonville could be a landing spot for the 2019 second-round pick. Then, James Palmer of Bleacher Report stated that he doesn't rule out a trade, pointing out that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has quietly been working the phones.
This begs the question: Does it really make sense for the Jags to trade for Brown? A beat writer doesn't think it does.
AJ Brown to the Jags? pic.twitter.com/6sWlhEhSpw
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) May 19, 2026
A respected Jaguars voice weighs the pros and cons of trading for A.J. Brown
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated explained why a trade for A.J. Brown "doesn't pass the sniff test." On the one hand, he argues that general manager James Gladstone has a history of making bold moves, and the Pro Bowl receiver is the only big-name remaining who could change uniforms before the start of the season.
"In the wake of Lawrence landing with the Bengals and Johnathan Greenard heading to the Eagles, Brown is the last blue-chipper who is available for trade until the next superstar wants to find a fresh start," Shipley wrote. "Outside of Brown, the options for Gladstone to make a giant move before Week 1 are slim. If Gladstone wanted to make a splash, Brown is the only real one to make right now."
On the other hand, Shipley argues that the Jags don't make sense as a landing spot for Brown, pointing out that they had three receivers cross the 700-yard mark last year.
"But entering the offseason program, it is hard to say there is a single position the Jaguars need help at less than the wide receiver position. The Jaguars had three different receivers hit 700 yards last season in Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Parker Washington, and this does not even factor in Hunter and the snaps he will play on offense," Shipley said.
For the sake of transparency, there's another player with name recognition who could still be traded apart from A.J. Brown. Nick Herbig probably isn't a budding star, but he's quickly emerging as one of the best young pass rushers across the league, registering a combined 13 sacks the past two years.
Herbig is entering a contract year, and it's hard to tell if the Pittsburgh Steelers want to keep him beyond 2027. If they don't, they could place him on the trade block, and he could net them a second-round pick.
Circling back to Shipley's remarks, he makes some compelling points. James Gladstone isn't afraid to make a bold move if it makes the team better. On the other hand, Jacksonville isn't in need of help at receiver.
Granted, Brown is more accomplished than any of the receivers on the Jaguars roster. Having said that, it simply doesn't make sense to bring him aboard when they already have four intriguing options in Parker Washington, Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jakobi Meyers.
Couple that with the fact that Jacksonville is seemingly engaged in contract talks with Washington to keep him beyond 2026, and acquiring Brown seems like an unnecessary move.
The Jaguars could need to allocate significant resources to A.J. Brown
The one thing that could incentivize the Jaguars to trade for A.J. Brown is that they may only need a second-round selection to get a deal done. But that's just part of the equation. His contract pays him an average of $32 million per year, and Jacksonville would be willing to take on that kind of salary.
Make no mistake, Brown is worth every cent, but it wouldn't make it challenging for the front office to extend Parker Washington. Vice president of football operations Tony Boselli made it clear that the organization is engaged in contract talks with Washington. Bringing in Brown could bring the plan to a halt.
On the other hand, if the Jags don't want to give up an early-round pick, they could include Brian Thomas Jr. if they aren't convinced he can bounce back. The issue is that Thomas' contract runs through 2027 (plus the fifth-year option), so his cap hit is more than affordable the next three years.
If Jackonville sent Thomas to the Eagles in return for Brown, it would be giving up an affordable deal for one that would take up considerable cap space. This, in turn, could prevent the team from either re-signing their own players or making a few signings in free agency next year.
Either way, the only reason the Jaguars should trade for A.J. Brown is if they think he's the missing piece that can propel the Super Bowl. Otherwise, they would be giving up lots of resources just to get a bit better at receiver.
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