The Philadelphia Eagles' offense leveled up this offseason with the acquisition of A.J. Brown, a veteran broad receiver whom the Tennessee Titans dealt to the Eagles in a surprising draft-night deal.
Brown's presence gives some fast assist for younger quarterback Jalen Hurts, who's going through what's more likely to be a make-or-break marketing campaign. He'll be part of DeVonta Smith — the Eagles' No. 10 total choose in 2021 — and Quez Watkins this upcoming season in Philly's passing assault.
Eagles offensive deal with and former first-round draft choose Lane Johnson was impressed by Brown proper off the bat, evaluating the 24-year-old wideout to one of many biggest NFL receivers up to now twenty years.
"While you take a look at [Brown] on the hoof, you consider Anquan Boldin," Johnson mentioned. "He is 6-foot-1, 225 [pounds] and appears like he is about that motion. While you watch the tape and notice that he's … He is a particular man."
Brown has averaged 16.19 yards per catch since his 2019 debut, trailing solely Mike Williams (16.78) for the very best mark within the NFL (min. 150 receptions), and has 24 receiving touchdowns in that very same time. DK Metcalf is the one participant from Brown's draft class to have extra receiving TDs after his first three years with 29. What's extra, Brown's 185 catches and a pair of,995 receiving yards are the second most for a participant after three seasons in Titans' franchise historical past.
He joins the Eagles coming off a season because the Titans' high receiver, having amassed 869 yards — 393 extra yards than the subsequent closest WR (Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, 476 yards).
It is easy to see the similarity between Brown and Boldin, a seven-time 1,000-yard receiver and three-time Professional Bowler who caught 1,076 passes for 13,779 yards and 82 touchdowns over his 14-year profession with the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. Boldin was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the 12 months in 2003 after racking up 1,377 yards on 101 catches that 12 months, and he went on to guide the NFL in receiving yards per sport in 2005 (amongst gamers with not less than 50 catches).
Johnson is not the primary individual to acknowledge the similarities between the 2 celebrity receivers. Actually, the pair have drawn comparisons way back to 2019 and 2020.
The query stays: Will Brown be capable of construct a legacy like Boldin's?
Solely time will inform.
