NFL Teams Consider Key Wide Receiver Trades as New Season Approaches

With the first NFL game of the 2026 season only 100 days away, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants are considering significant roster changes. Both teams are contemplating trades involving prominent wide receivers, A.J. Brown and Odell Beckham Jr., with possible decisions as soon as Monday.

The Giants’ Moves

The New York Giants have been in talks with Odell Beckham Jr. for over a month. They plan to bring him to their facility on Monday, as confirmed by a source to OutKick and Fox News Digital. In addition to Beckham, the Giants will be evaluating JuJu Smith-Schuster, Anthony Miller, and Braxton Berrios. Smith-Schuster has experience with the Giants’ offense, having worked with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy in Kansas City last season.

Beckham, now 33 years old, hopes to return to the team that drafted him in 2014. He aims to secure a contract and has been actively engaged with the Giants, even participating in a charity softball game with quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The Giants need help at the receiver position after losing Gunner Olszewski for the season due to what is believed to be an Achilles tear. While Beckham may not contribute to special teams like Olszewski or Berrios, he is favored by coach John Harbaugh and offers depth, as Malik Nabors is still recovering from ACL surgery.

Eagles’ Financial Flexibility

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are now in a better financial position to trade A.J. Brown. The onset of June 1 activates salary cap mechanisms, allowing the Eagles to distribute the cap hit from a trade over multiple seasons instead of absorbing it entirely in 2026. This change makes trading Brown more feasible.

Before June 1, trading Brown would have involved a $43.4 million dead-money charge for the Eagles, which was not manageable. However, from Monday, this charge reduces to $16.3 million by spreading it over multiple years.

The Eagles have been discussing a potential trade involving Brown since before the NFL Draft. The New England Patriots have shown the most interest, but they are hesitant to offer a first-round pick in exchange, which is precisely what the Eagles desire. General Manager Howie Rosen seeks fair market value for Brown rather than conducting what would feel like a fire sale.

Motivations Behind the Trade

Despite A.J. Brown being a talented player entering his prime at 29 years old, his role in Philadelphia’s offense has been a source of frustration. Brown publicly and via social media has expressed dissatisfaction due to the Eagles’ run-focused strategy, which prioritizes Saquon Barkley. This recurring issue has been a distraction for the team, amplified by Brown’s significant $32 million per year contract.

The Eagles have spent the offseason bolstering their receiving lineup, preparing for a future without Brown. This future may begin sooner than anticipated, starting Monday morning.