What A.J. Brown is not doing on weekend nights to show $96M Eagles' contract is bargain

PHILADELPHIA − A.J. Brown officially signed his NFL-record contract Tuesday.

The three-year extension is worth as much as $96 million. The average annual value set a record for wide receivers at $32 million, surpassing the $30 million deal signed last week by Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Asked about the significance of that, Brown responded by saying, "Nothing."

And really, Brown is right. It's just a matter of time before another wide receiver like Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase passes him on the salary scale.

Brown could have been that receiver, too. His current four-year, $100 million deal, which he signed the night the Eagles traded for him during the draft two years ago, runs through the 2025 season.

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All he has to do is put together two more seasons of 1,400-plus yards receiving, and Brown could have approached top QB money (in today's dollars) in the spring of 2026, whether it's with the Eagles or another team in free agency.

After all, Brown had 1,496 and 1,456 yards receiving in his first two seasons as an Eagle, ranking first and second in receiving yards for a single season in franchise history.

But Brown said he signed now because "the timing is right," adding: "My career took off when I got here. It went to another level. It feels right."

Earlier, the Eagles posted a video of Brown on their social media account, with Brown telling fans: "When I hang my cleats up, it's going to be in that uniform right there."

All of it is well and good, and you get the feeling that Brown really means it when he says how much he wants to remain an Eagle. His best friend for years is quarterback Jalen Hurts. He refers to fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who received a lucrative contract 3-year, $75 million extension less than two weeks ago, as his brother.

And Brown could hardly contain his excitement over the free agent signing of running back Saquon Barkley, to go along with bringing in Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator.

And it's in Brown's response when you get the idea that Brown's richest contract for a wide receiver will be a bargain.

"I could say the sky’s the limit, but it comes down to working together and putting in that work," Brown said. "That’s the one thing I’m going to get up here and say, that we’re going to go to work each and every day. We’re going to push each other, and let the chips fall where they may.

"I’m not going to get up here and say or give all these (accolades). I’m just gonna say that we’re gonna work hard."

Sure, anyone can say they're going to work hard, that the money isn't going to change them. And here, Brown gave a glimpse into what it takes for him to become one of the top wide receivers in the NFL − and his determination to keep it that way.

"I have this list on my phone." he said. "I got notes where I come up with things after I watch film, or I think about what I need to get better at, or what I want to get better at, what I want to add to my game. I’m not going to discuss (those things). But just having that mentality each and every day, to get better."

And then Brown continued, explaining exactly what that means to him.

"I know guys are not working every single day. I know they’re not working twice a day either. And I’m trying to gain that edge. When I think about it ... I know where guys go on Friday night – they’re going out. I’m going to go work out.

"Saturday night, they’re going to party. I’m going to work out. I’m trying to get that edge, and I’m just trying to have that mentality of I’m trying to gain an inch every single day. Because I know, not everybody is doing that. So when the time comes, we’ll see."

As for the Eagles, they want to keep their best players together as long as possible.

On offense, Hurts got an extension worth as much as $255 million last spring. Over the past two months, Brown and Smith got big deals, as did left guard Landon Dickerson (four years, as much as $84 million) and left tackle Jordan Mailata (three years, as much as $66 million).

They are all signed through at least 2028. Barkley and right tackle Lane Johnson are signed through 2026.

"The only way we can possibly (keep everyone together) is by doing deals early," Eagles GM Howie Roseman said last weekend. "We felt like it was an opportunity to do that here with AJ. Obviously, we've done a bunch of deals with a bunch of our players and want to add to that and keep this team together as much as we possibly can.

"We couldn't do that without (Brown's) support in allowing us to do that. We felt like the earlier we did that would be better for us and him. And him knowing that he was going to be here. He's a great player. Captain of this team."

It doesn't take much to figure out why.

Brown never wanted to leave the Eagles. Brown showed that in January when he called into SportsRadio 94.1 WIP to lambaste the hosts for a social media poll asking fans if the Eagles should trade Brown for Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain.

Four months later, Brown said he regrets making the call.

“It’s something I’ve learned from," he said. "I'll let people just have their opinions and keep pushing. I’m human."

That's because Brown calls Philadelphia as "my home." He loves the support he gets from Eagles fans, even when he's working out in Florida. And he loves how Eagles fans travel, making "away games feel like home games."

So Brown will keep working, twice a day, on Friday nights and Saturday nights, too. The Eagles took care of him, and he wants to reciprocate.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How A.J. Brown shows his new $96 million Eagles' contract is a bargain