The Indianapolis Colts have been linked with pass catchers in the upcoming NFL Draft. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman are two of the more popular picks in mock drafts. However, the Colts could look in a different direction to address their aerial attack… towards Philadelphia and disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Brown is rumored to be unhappy with the Eagles, who lost six of their last seven games including Monday’s debacle in Tampa Bay. He reportedly removed the Eagles from all of his social media channels. Bookies.com handicapper Adam Thompson puts the Colts as the second-favorite team to land Brown if he forces a move. A.J. Brown’s Next Team via Bookies.com Houston Texans +400 (20%) Indianapolis Colts +450 (18.2%) Cincinnati Bengals +475 (17.4%) Kansas City Chiefs +575 (14.2%) Arizona Cardinals +600 (14.3%) New England Patriots +850 (10.5%) Chicago Bears +1200 (7.7%) The Field +500 (16.7%) A lot, and we do mean a lot, needs to happen for Brown to even become available. There are significant financial implications for the Eagles if they were to lose their leading receiver.
Brown carries a dead-cap number of more than $42 million in 2024 if he were outright released according to Spotrac. However, a trade with a post-June 1 designation becomes much more palatable with just a $10.6-million dead-cap hit and nearly $2 million in savings according to Overthecap. The Colts currently have the No. 15 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Eagles gave up the No. 18 and No. 101 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft when they acquired Brown from the Titans. One would assume that the Eagles would ask for the Colts’ first-round pick as a conversation starter. Brown worked with Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen last year when he was the offensive coordinator of the Eagles. Brown had 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns in his only year under Steichen… both career highs.
Leading wide receiver Michael Pittman will be a free agent in March. He’s due a hefty raise, but the Colts have the fifth-most available cap space in the NFL according to Spotrac. Could they afford both Pittman and the 26-year old A.J. Brown? Yes. Yes, they could. Watching the Eagles implode the last two month of the season has been entertaining for NFL fans. The Colts have more reason than most to keep an eye on Philadelphia in the coming weeks according to Bookies.com.
