Eagles Eyeing Washington WR as Potential A.J. Brown Replacement

Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum sees Denzel Boston as a perfect fit to complement DeVonta Smith and Marquise Brown in Philly.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:52pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-catch, with sharp planes of color and form capturing the dynamic motion of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a wide receiver making a game-changing catch, reflecting the Eagles' search for their next star pass-catcher.Washington Today

The Philadelphia Eagles are facing an uncertain future with star wide receiver A.J. Brown, who has been the subject of persistent trade rumors. As the team looks to the 2026 NFL Draft for potential replacements, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum has identified Washington's Denzel Boston as a player who could step in and fill the void left by Brown.

Why it matters

The Eagles have been busy reshaping their wide receiver corps this offseason, adding Marquise Brown, Elijah Moore, and Dontayvion Wicks. However, the team may still be in the market for a long-term running mate for DeVonta Smith, and Denzel Boston could be that player if the Eagles decide to move on from A.J. Brown.

The details

Tannenbaum believes Boston, a four-year contributor at Washington, profiles similarly to Brown and could be a 'perfect complement' to the smaller, quicker receivers already on the Eagles' roster. Boston had a standout 2025 season, catching 125 passes for 1,711 yards and 20 touchdowns, earning third-team All-Big Ten recognition.

  • The Eagles could move A.J. Brown before the 2026 NFL Draft or even during the draft.
  • If a trade is finalized before June 1, the Eagles would take on roughly $43 million in dead money, but waiting until after that date would cut the hit to around $16 million.

The players

A.J. Brown

The star wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles who has been the subject of persistent trade rumors.

Denzel Boston

A four-year contributor at the University of Washington who had a standout 2025 season, catching 125 passes for 1,711 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Mike Tannenbaum

A former NFL general manager who now works as an NFL analyst and has identified Denzel Boston as a potential replacement for A.J. Brown in Philadelphia.

DeVonta Smith

The Eagles' young wide receiver who could benefit from having a long-term running mate like Denzel Boston.

Marquise Brown

The wide receiver the Eagles acquired this offseason to help reshape their receiving corps.

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What they’re saying

“He profiles like A.J. Brown. Again, not saying he's going to be, right? He's a perfect complement to the undersized quickness of Hollywood Brown and DeVonta Smith. So, I know we're in the speculation game.”

— Mike Tannenbaum, Former NFL GM

What’s next

The Eagles will need to decide whether to trade A.J. Brown before or after the June 1 deadline, as the timing will impact their salary cap situation. If they do move on from Brown, Denzel Boston could be a top target for the team in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The takeaway

The Eagles are facing a pivotal offseason as they look to reshape their wide receiver corps and find a long-term replacement for A.J. Brown. Denzel Boston's profile as a big, physical receiver could make him an ideal fit to complement the team's existing pass-catchers and grow alongside DeVonta Smith.