ESPN Jets beat writer doubles down on Titans WR AJ Brown trade rumors
The trade rumors surrounding Tennessee Titans wide receiver AJ Brown apparently aren't going to stop until he's either traded or signs a contract extension. Brown, who was drafted by the Titans in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, is set to be a free agent after the 2022 season. The former Ole Miss […]
The trade rumors surrounding Tennessee Titans wide receiver AJ Brown apparently aren't going to stop until he's either traded or signs a contract extension.
Brown, who was drafted by the Titans in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, is set to be a free agent after the 2022 season.
The former Ole Miss star should receive a mega-contract, thanks to his performance during his first three seasons with the Titans — plus the inflation of the wide receiver market this offseason (due to lucrative contracts for Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams).
The Brown trade rumors seemingly came out of nowhere last month. It all started when ESPN reporter Rich Cimini reported that the New York Jets are "keeping an eye" on Brown's situation with the Titans.
That report was immediately met with skepticism. The Titans have maintained that they plan to work out an extension with Brown.
“We get calls about players all the time – that’s what GMs do,” said Titans general manager Jon Robinson last week (via Titans Online). “I haven’t received any of those calls (about A.J.), and if they do call, our intention is A.J., we are going to keep him in Nashville. He is an important part of our offense.”
On Sunday, Cimini doubled down on the Brown trade rumors.
"The hot names are the Seattle Seahawks' DK Metcalf and the Tennessee Titans' A.J. Brown, both of whom have only one year left on their rookie contracts and are up for mega-extensions….Brown is the name to watch, as mentioned two weeks ago, because of the Titans' tight cap situation."
Despite Cimini's report, I still think this is mostly fantasy.
Can we completely rule out Brown getting traded?
No, anything is possible — especially after watching two massive star wide receivers in Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams get traded.
But trading Brown would go against everything we know about how Robinson makes personnel decisions for the Titans.
Robinson has proven over the last several years that Titans who perform at a high level get rewarded with contract extensions. We've seen it with Taylor Lewan, Kevin Byard, Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, and Harold Landry.
Why would Brown, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, be any different?
I know Cimini mentioned cap space, but the Titans can free up cap space after the 2022 season if they chose to move on from Tannehill (designating Tannehill as a post 6/1 release in 2023 would save $27 million in cap space). Tennessee could also save around $14 million in cap space if they release Lewan after the 2022 season.
The Titans have options. I don't think they're anywhere close to a situation where they feel they have to trade Brown.
You never say never, but it's really hard for me to envision the Titans letting Brown leave Nashville.
Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
