ESPN Proposes Broncos Trade for Eagles WR A.J. Brown

The deal would send a young Broncos cornerback and draft picks to Philadelphia.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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ESPN's Bill Barnwell has proposed a trade that would send wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Denver Broncos. The proposed deal would have the Broncos sending fourth-year cornerback Riley Moss, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for Brown and a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Why it matters

The Broncos are in need of wide receiver help to support young quarterback Bo Nix, and Brown would provide a true No. 1 receiving threat to complement Courtland Sutton. However, Brown's hefty $29 million salary in 2026 would require some salary cap maneuvering by the Broncos.

The details

Barnwell believes the Broncos would be willing to part with Moss because they have other young cornerback options like Jahdae Barron and Ja'Quan McMillian. The Broncos have around $28.8 million in salary cap space, which would be enough to fit Brown's contract, but they would likely need to restructure deals for veterans like Mike McGlinchey and Talanoa Hufanga to create more room.

  • The 2026 NFL league year begins on March 11.

The players

A.J. Brown

A 29-year-old wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles who has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason.

Riley Moss

A fourth-year cornerback for the Denver Broncos who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Bo Nix

The Broncos' young quarterback who is still on his cost-controlled rookie contract, making it a priority for the team to build around him this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Barnwell opines that Denver would be amenable to making Moss part of this deal because it has options like 2025 first-rounder Jahdae Barron and Ja'Quan McMillian waiting in the wings at cornerback.”

— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Analyst (SI.com)

What’s next

The Broncos will need to determine if they are willing to part with the proposed trade package to acquire A.J. Brown from the Eagles. They will also need to restructure veteran contracts to create the necessary salary cap space to absorb Brown's $29 million salary in 2026.

The takeaway

Acquiring A.J. Brown would provide a significant boost to the Broncos' passing attack and take pressure off young quarterback Bo Nix. However, the cost in terms of draft capital and the need to restructure contracts to fit Brown's salary make this a complex decision for the Broncos' front office.