Trade speculation surrounding A.J. Brown continues to grow. The Philadelphia Eagles face a major financial dilemma that could delay any potential move involving the star receiver.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport highlighted on Monday that the situation rapidly fluctuated in recent days.

“At various times over the last three days, it looked like one thing was definitely going to happen, and then it was clear something else was going to happen,” Rapoport said on “Good Morning Football.” “There were various points that I really firmly believed A.J. Brown was going to be traded.”

Several teams reportedly explored the possibility. Early interest included four teams, but the list eventually narrowed. The LA Rams examined the idea closely before deciding against pursuing a deal. Their decision left the New England Patriots as the most consistent suitor, with ongoing dialogue involving the Eagles and Brown.

The biggest obstacle is financial. Brown signed a three-year, $96 million extension in April 2024, with significant guaranteed money still on the books. If the Eagles trade him immediately, the remaining bonus money would accelerate onto their salary cap. It could potentially create a dead-cap hit exceeding $40 million.

The June 1 threshold matters, as trading Brown after the date would roughly halve the immediate cap damage.

“Part of the problem here if the Eagles traded A.J. Brown now (is) about $40 million accelerates onto their cap,” Rapoport said. “If they do it after June 1, it’s closer to $20 million. That’s a lot of money.”

A deal could be delayed until summer. A post-June trade would also shift compensation from 2026 draft picks to 2027 selections, which is another complication in negotiations.

New England is still monitoring the situation, while Philadelphia is weighing whether moving one of the NFL’s most productive receivers is worth the financial fallout.

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Rams reportedly explored Davante Adams trade during A.J. Brown discussions

The LA Rams considered moving Davante Adams while exploring a potential trade for A.J. Brown, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

“Per a league source, the Rams, while talking about a possible trade for Brown, were pursuing the possibility of trading Adams,” Florio wrote on Sunday.

Adams signed a two-year deal worth up to $44 million with LA in March 2025. He finished last season with 60 catches for 789 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns in 14 games.

The Rams eventually “tapped out” of talks with the Philadelphia Eagles, whose reported asking price includes a first- and second-round pick.