This should come as no surprise to anyone who follows the Tennessee Titans, but the team is reportedly not “shopping or taking calls” on wide receiver A.J. Brown, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Let’s say that louder for those in the back: the Titans are not going to trade their 24-year-old star receiver, as it would make zero sense, something I’ve opined about here before.
Brown is in the final year of his rookie deal and doesn’t have an extension lined up at the moment, but as Russini notes — and as noted by general manager Jon Robinson last month — the team is intent on keeping him.
Robinson also admitted last month that Brown and the Titans have had preliminary talks about an extension.
The Tennessee Titans are not shopping or taking calls on WR A.J. Brown, per sources. GM Jon Robinson made it clear at the owner's meeting they are currently working towards keeping Brown a Titan for the long term.
I'm told this has not changed.— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) April 5, 2022
Trade speculation surrounding Brown was kicked off by ESPN’s Rich Cimini, who reported that the New York Jets were “keeping an eye on” Brown in the event he could become available for trade should he and Tennessee not work out a long-term deal soon.
However, nothing in Cimini’s report indicated that the Titans were actually shopping their No. 1 wideout and former second-round pick, thus it was him just making his own deduction, partly based on the movement of big-name receivers who couldn’t come to terms on deals with their former teams.
All general managers keep an eye on good players around the NFL, and this situation is no different. A general manager wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t.
While Brown will be expensive (he could see a deal of at least $20 million per season), the Titans will do everything they can to keep arguably their best playmaker in Nashville for the long haul, something they have plenty of time to do, as Brown won’t hit the open market until 2023.
What the Titans won’t do, however, is give up ahead of time and make the bone-headed decision to trade Brown; that just isn’t happening.
Sorry (not sorry), Jets fans.
