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Blockbuster! Titans Trade A.J. Brown To Eagles
The Eagles didn’t get their receiver with their coveted receiver with the 13th overall choice, instead trading up to take Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis.

Instead, Philadelphia landed a receiver with a blockbuster trade, sending the 18th overall choice and a third-round selection (No. 101 overall) to the Titans for A.J. Brown.

As Profootballtalk.com reminded readers, Titans coach Mike Vrabel recently said Brown wasn’t going on the trade block “as long as I’m the head coach.” Three weeks later, Brown is an Eagle.

The Titans selected Brown in the second round of the 2019 draft. He spent three seasons in Tennessee. Entering the final year of his deal, Brown is looking for long-term security, which the Titans didn’t appear eager to give him.

Brown had not participated in the Titans’ voluntary offseason program.

Brown, 24, made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and has caught 185 passes for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns through three seasons.

In addition, Brown gets a new contract -- as in a super-high end contract.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Eagles and Brown have agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with $57 million guaranteed.

Clearly, Tennessee was not willing to pay Brown as much as the Eagles.

Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts now has DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown as his top targets for 2022.

Brown caught 63 passes for 869 yards with five touchdowns in 13 games in 2021. He went over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons for the Titans.

Meanwhile, the Titans didn't wait long to start working on replacing Brown, selecting Arkansas wideout Treylon Burks with the 18th pick acquired from the Eagles.

As NFL.com notes, big, smooth and natural, Burks possesses the versatility to operate from wherever you want and get to wherever you need no matter the competition. He's a mismatch receiver combining size, strength and competitiveness similar to Brown, but his speed testing at the NFL Scouting Combine did not meet expectations.

Arkansas benefitted by putting the ball in his hands from a variety of alignments and there is no reason to believe NFL play-callers won't benefit from doing the same. The tape is extremely exciting with real NFL skills jumping off the screen, but his potential to become a high-volume, three-level target is a little more cloudy after a relatively disappointing showing at the combine.

Certainly, Burks will have an immediate opportunity on a depth chart currently featuring former Ram Robert Woods, who is coming off a torn ACL, Nick Westbrook_Ikhine, Racey McMath, Cody Hollister, Dez Fitzpatrick, Mason Kinsey and Josh Malone.

Bigger picture, the move furthers a trend.

The Titans decided not to pay a great veteran receiver who was due for a second contract, but to draft his replacement. According to Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio, some in league circles think that's the best approach, given the number of great receivers entering the league every year.