For the past few weeks, I have been preaching to anyone that would listen that the Tennessee Titans must pay AJ Brown and do whatever it takes to keep their WR1 in Nashville. I thought Brown was a key piece for the future of the Titans, the organization’s front office thought differently.
The Titans didn’t listen to my tweet, they decided to trade Brown during the first night of the NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles. In return, the Titans received the No. 18 and No. 101 overall picks. They would use pick 18 to select Arkansas wide receiver, Treylon Burks.
Brown immediately received a 4-year $100 million extension from the Eagles. $57 million of the contract is guaranteed.
I’ll be honest, this trade gutted me, and I will probably never forget the feeling I had when I learned of the trade. I was on the phone with one of my best friends, talking about the draft and how crazy it had already been. Then I refreshed my Twitter feed to see the latest news and there it was, the tweet from Adam Schefter. I read it and had the tiniest bit of hope it was a troll account and it was all fake news. Then I saw that little blue checkmark and quickly realized that the news had reached Elon Musk’s Twitter.com, and it was official: Brown was an Eagle.
Three Fun Years in Nashville
A few days have now passed since the trade has happened and I want to reflect on the great times I had watching Brown in two-tone blue.
The Titans selected Brown with the 51st pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. I’ll never forget when the Titans drafted Brown, I had just left the movie theater after seeing “Avengers: Endgame.” I looked at my phone and got the Twitter alert and was immediately stoked, I knew from that moment the Titans had a good one.
Despite being a second-round pick, Brown would become the number one receiver very quickly. He brought an immediate swagger that is almost needed at the receiver position.
In his rookie year, he caught 52 passes for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns. In his sophomore season, he caught 70 passes for 1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns. Then in an injury-riddled third season in the pros, Brown caught 63 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns. He did this all in a run-first offense featuring Derrick Henry.
His awesome sophomore season resulted in Brown being selected as a Pro Bowler.
All three seasons Brown was in Nashville, the Titans would make the playoffs. As a rookie they would make it as a Wildcard team, eventually upsetting the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
Then in years two and three, Brown helped the Titans win the AFC South in back-to-back seasons and even secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC in 2021. The division crowns did not secure postseason success, though. The Titans would fall in the Wildcard Round to the Ravens in 2020 and would lose to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round in 2021.
Brown’s last game was the loss against the Bengals and what a way to go out. He finished with five catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.
In just three seasons, Brown became one of, if not the best, receiver in franchise history. It was an amazing run for the former Ole Miss Rebel in two-tone blue.
Trade Ramifications
After securing the No. 1 overall seed in the 2021 AFC playoffs, everything has been downhill for the Tennessee Titans and their fans.
The downhill trek started with their Divisional Round contest against the eventual AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals. Despite Derrick Henry making a triumphant return, the defense recording nine sacks, and Browns balling out, the Titans would lose to the Bengals.
This offseason, the Titans have said goodbye to several key pieces, Julio Jones, Jayon Brown, Rashaan Evans, and now Brown.
At the same time, they made some key pick-ups like trading for Robert Woods and signing Austin Hooper. The Titans used their trade with the Eagles to select Treylon Burks, who will instantly be slotted into Brown’s spot. Burks said on the Draft night that he’s not going to attempt to replace Brown, but that is how fans will view the situation. Burks is so talented but is being put in a very difficult position as a rookie.
Then in the third round, the Titans would select Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. With Brown out of the picture, the Titans might see their winning window becoming smaller and maybe looking towards a future offense led by Willis and Burks. I know Titan fans are upset after the Brown trade, I am too, but the potential of Burks and Willis must excite you.
On the other hand, Brown will instantly become wide receiver 1 in Philly. He joins Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith in a star-studded offense. He also joins a team that made the playoffs last year and will no doubt be a popular pick to win the NFC East in 2022.
This trade will take a long time to get over. In just three seasons Brown became a fan favorite for good reason. I refuse to throw that away; I can’t wait to watch Brown catch touchdowns from Jalen Hurts.
Who knows? I might even throw in a Fly Eagles Fly here and there.
