First Round Pick’s Release Puts $100 Million Eagles Trade in Stunning Focus

If you’re looking at what the foundations were that led the Philadelphia Eagles to making it to 2 Super Bowls over the last 3 seasons and winning one of them, you can start the conversation with the 2022 trade that brought them 3-time NFL All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans.

The long lasting dynamics on both sides of the trade were put into stark focus this week when the Titans released wide receiver Treylon Burks, the player they got in exchange for Brown. In the deal, the Eagles sent the Titans the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft and the Titans subsequently used that pick on Burks.

The Eagles signed Brown to a 4-year, $100 million contract extension the same day they traded for him — April 28, 2022 — then signed him to another 3-year, $96 million contract extension in April 2024.

In 3 seasons in Philadelphia, Brown has been one of the NFL’s singularly great wide receivers and has made 3 consecutive NFL All-Pro Teams, 2 Pro Bowls and had over 1,000 receiving yards all 3 seasons.

Burks, who suffered a fractured collarbone a few days before his release on July 28, has been one of the biggest draft busts in Titans franchise history.

In 3 seasons, he’s missed 24 games due to injuries and has career totals of 53 receptions, 699 yards and just 1 touchdown — a touchdown that came after he recovered a fumble by running back Derrick Henry in the end zone.

In that same stretch, Brown has played in 47 games with 261 receptions, 4,031 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Want even more evidence it’s one of the worst trades of all time? In 12 career postseason games, Brown’s numbers of 41 receptions for 598 yards and 5 touchdowns. are almost equivalent to or eclipse Burks’ career stats.

Brown-Burks Trade: The Internet Never Forgets

Burks’ release brought up a new round of social media blasts over the 3-year-old trade.

“Drafting Isaiah Wilson, Caleb Farley and Treylon Burks in the first has to be the worst run we’ve seen in a while,” X user Karan wrote on their official account. 

“Drafted out of force in one of the most unpopular trades in Titans history while AJ Brown dominates as an Eagle and wins a ring,” X user Urinating Tree wrote on their official X account. “Treylon Burks never had a (expletive) chance.”

“A.J. Brown finishing with more Super Bowl appearances in Philly than Treylon Burks had career touchdowns in Tennessee is truly remarkable,” X user Brenden Dreeg wrote on his official account. 

“Treylon Burks could fall out of a boat in the middle of the ocean and impale himself on a narwhal,” Dr. B wrote on his X account. 

“I have nothing against Treylon Burks the person,” X user Zander Mercury wrote. “I just loathe the path he took to become a Titan. It’s not his fault and I hold no blame against him. It’s solely on (former general manager) Jon Robinson for being a (expletive).” 

“The Tennessee Titans spent a decade searching for big, physical X receiver early in the draft,” NFL reporter Dave Kluge wrote on his official X account. “Kenny Britt, Justin Hunter, Dorial Green-Beckham, Corey Davis. They finally hit on AJ Brown. And then immediately traded him away and restarted the process with Treylon Burks.”