Another month, another Philadelphia Eagles superstar A.J. Brown offseason circus. This time, it's not a vague tweet or erased Instagram post—it's a ridiculous trade rumor that unexpectedly caught some steam, with virtually no legs to stand on.

On Friday, Boston sports radio personality Nick "Fitzy" Stevens fueled the fire on WEEI by asserting that the Eagles are going to call the New England Patriots on draft day. The alleged motive? Offer A.J. Brown and other draft picks in exchange for moving up to No. 4 overall—if Penn State's Abdul Carter remains available.

It sounds like the story of a Madden Franchise Mode dream. And honestly, that's all it is. A Philly reporter said that this rumored trade made no sense at all, and here's why.

Where the Rumor Started

NFL Trade Rumors: Eagles Trading A.J. Brown to Abdul Carter NFL Trade Rumors: Eagles Trading A.J. Brown to Abdul Carter
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In the "WEEI Afternoons" podcast, Stevens reports that a "little birdie" informed him that Philadelphia is strongly interested in Abdul Carter and would make a draft-day trade, including moving Brown, to get him back together with former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who is now on the New England staff.

The rumor quickly gained traction on social media and sports-talk radio, with some fans seriously wondering if the Eagles were getting ready to devastate their offense.

But here's the reality: there's zero real hope the Eagles trade A.J. Brown this offseason.

Salary Cap Reality Shuts the Door

Let's get to the math. If the Eagles traded Brown during the offseason, they'd take a hit for more than $30 million in dead cap, a staggering amount for a team already swimming in tight financial seas. That alone will make the trade impossible, according to PhillyVoice writer Jimmy Kempski.

Even if they needed to, the Eagles couldn't absorb the cap hit without hurting their 2025 roster.

To place it in context, Philadelphia sits at less than $12 million in cap room, per the NFLPA daily report. Kempski says that cutting Brown would not only surpass that number but balloon the Eagles past the cap in a league-violating move. Short version: it's not just improbable—it's procedurally impossible.

Brown Isn't Just Any Receiver

Let's not forget A.J. Brown was undefeated in every game he started and completed last season with Jalen Hurts. Trading a player of his skill level, particularly one who is still in his prime and a central figure in Philly's Super Bowl window, would be stupid.

In addition, the rumor arrived only days after Brown shared a tongue-in-cheek video commemorating the fact that he had received a signed Julian Edelman jersey.

Some people saw the video as trolling—others saw it as proof that he was targeting a move to New England. Brown is known for messing with fans on social media, and this prank probably contributed to the rumor mill quite a bit.

Fan Fiction Passed Off as Reporting

According to Kempski, WEEI presented the story not as speculative or hypothetical. They promoted it as sourced content, setting it off to wider discussion, including pieces on Philadelphia's WIP, where fans had an argument over whether or not they'd pull off the trade.

But here's the reality: this "report" is nothing but a bad cover for fan fiction. It's not grounded in good intel or inside sources—it's grounded in speculation that fails the most cursory examination.

A.J. Brown Isn't Going Anywhere

In defiance of what you might have heard on Boston talk radio, the Eagles are not shopping A.J. Brown. They are not drafting up for Abdul Carter. And they are not taking on a $30 million cap charge to do it.

This whole story is a social media mirage—enjoyable, maybe, but utterly removed from financial reality or football sense.

So, Eagles fans, breathe easy. A.J. Brown will be wearing midnight green by Week 1. And to those still arguing this trade scenario, perhaps it's time to log off and touch the grass.