As the first NFL game of the 2026 season nears, two significant teams are making strategic plans involving well-known wide receivers. The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants are actively assessing their options with players like A.J. Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. These decisions might happen as soon as Monday.
New York Giants Eye Talent
The New York Giants have been in talks with Odell Beckham Jr. for over a month. They plan to bring Beckham to their facility shortly. The team is also working out other talents such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, Anthony Miller, and Braxton Berrios. Notably, Smith-Schuster is familiar with the Giants’ offense, having played under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy with Kansas City.
Beckham, who is 33 years old, is eager to return to the team that drafted him in 2014. He’s been making strong efforts to secure a contract, even participating in a team charity softball game recently. Beckham displayed his commitment by engaging with quarterback Jaxson Dart and other players.
“Odell Beckham Jr. is looking to make a return to New York Giants.”
The Giants are in need of receiver support following Gunner Olszewski’s season-ending injury, suspecting an Achilles tear. Although Beckham does not contribute to special teams like Olszewski or Berrios, he is favored by Coach John Harbaugh and offers a measure of assurance as Malik Nabors recovers from surgery.
Philadelphia Eagles Maneuver Financially
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are now more financially equipped to consider parting with star receiver A.J. Brown. As of June 1, salary cap mechanisms allow the Eagles to spread the financial impact of trading Brown across several seasons, easing the immediate cap burden. Previously, a $43.4 million dead-money charge made a trade untenable, but this charge reduces to $16.3 million with the new financial strategy.
Multiple teams have shown interest in acquiring Brown, with the New England Patriots standing out. However, the Eagles demand a first-round pick, a trade condition that the Patriots and other interested parties have yet to meet.
Philadelphia’s readiness to trade Brown raises questions, given his prime age of 29 and considerable talent. Brown has expressed discontent with his role, particularly with the focus on a run-heavy offense last season dominated by Saquon Barkley’s impressive rushing yards. His dissatisfaction has sometimes been public, creating a challenging situation for coaches and teammates.
To prepare for a future possibly without Brown, the Eagles have bolstered their receiving depth throughout the offseason, signaling that major changes could happen soon.