The Tennessee Titans traded disgruntled receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for two draft picks during Thursday night’s NFL draft in Las Vegas.
The Titans acquired a first-round selection (18th overall) and third-round pick (101st) for Brown, who had expressed unhappiness with his contract situation.
According to multiple reports, the Eagles agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal with Brown that includes $57 million in guaranteed money.
Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel said trading Brown was “just another example of making tough decisions.”
“I’m confident we went to the extreme to try to keep A.J. here,” Vrabel said. “I was involved in the process the entire time. … I know that it probably doesn’t get received like that publicly, but this was a difficult process to get through, and I know what the gap we had to bridge was. This wasn’t easy.”
Tennessee wasted no time finding a potential replacement, using the #18 pick on promising Arkansas wideout Treylon Burks — the highest-selected Arkansas wide receiver since the common draft was instituted in 1967.
Burks said, “I am happy to be a part of the team now and play my role. I wouldn’t say I am (Brown’s) replacement, but I am thankful for the opportunity and that they believed in me to make that trade.”
Brown was entering the final season of his rookie contact, a four-year, $5.65 million deal. Since he was a second-round draft choice, there was no fifth-year option for the Titans to consider picking up.
Brown, who turns 25 in June, wasn’t partaking in Titans voluntary workouts and had hinted he expected to have a new lucrative deal before training camp.
Brown, a 2020 Pro Bowl selection, caught 185 passes for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns in 43 games (36 starts) over three seasons with Tennessee. He had 63 catches for 869 yards and five scores in 13 games last season and missed four games late in the season with a chest injury.
Burks caught 66 passes for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games for the Razorbacks last season. He set a school record with six 100-yard outings and earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors.
Burks had 146 catches for 2,399 yards and 18 touchdowns in 32 career games (30 starts) over three college seasons.