Why Eagles star views this season as ‘personal’: ‘I don’t care what anyone else says’

Most NFL players would feel accomplished after winning a Super Bowl and being named to three All-Pro teams during the first chapter of their career.  But when Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown evaluates his resume through six seasons, the three-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion feels unfulfilled.  At 28, Brown hopes to achieve the one thing that can resolve that feeling: becoming the best wide receiver in the NFL. He must outperform Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson and Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase to be considered the top WR, which won’t be an easy task.

“Just continue to be the best version of myself. I truly feel like I am the best (wide receiver) in the league, and I want to put a stamp on it,” Brown said after Wednesday’s training camp practice at the Novacare Complex.  Unless new Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo shies away from the team’s run-heavy approach, Brown could struggle to outdo his career year in 2022 (88 catches, 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns) to rise in the WR rankings.

Although more catches, yards and touchdowns could help Brown reach his goal, he doesn’t want his ambitions to distract him from doing whatever it takes to help Philadelphia’s offense be successful. With 2,000-yard running back Saquon Barkley being the main focal point of their offense, Brown might receive less opportunities to prove himself.  “So, I’m definitely motivated. But also, I have to put the team first,” Brown said. “And that’s what I do. Honestly, I can go into (it) deeper, but that’s what I’m focused on: being the best version of myself and proving it each and every day that I am the best.”

Brown amassed over 1,400 receiving yards in his first two seasons (2022-2023) with Philadelphia, but he only had 1,079 receiving yards last year after missing four games (Weeks 2-4 with a hamstring injury and Week 18 with rest).  He is viewed as the third or fourth best wide receiver in the NFL, trailing Jefferson and Chase, and competing with Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb for WR No. 3. But fellow Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith believes Brown is better than all of those guys.  “I mean, yeah, that’s the confidence that you’re supposed to have. Yeah, I feel like he is (the best wide receiver in the NFL),” Smith said Wednesday about Brown’s comments. “I feel like when it comes down to it, if I had to pick a receiver to go out there and win one-on-one besides myself, I’m going to pick A.J.

To surpass Chase, who amassed 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024, and Jefferson, who had 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024, as the top player at his position, Brown needs to compile astronomical numbers, dominate the best cornerbacks on the Eagles’ schedule and carry their offense to the Super Bowl.  Ultimately, though, Brown just cares about winning, and only his opinion of who is the No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL matters to him.  “That’s my measurement,” Brown said. “It’s not what the critics say or whoever said. That’s for me personally. God placed that in my heart. When I came into the league, he told that me that I could be the best in the league.  “Right now, I’m closer than I have ever been, and I want to put a stamp on it. That’s for me. That’s not for whoever else. I don’t care what anyone else says. This is personal for me. That’s what I’m chasing every day.”