AJ Brown addresses working with new teammate DeVonta Smith

The Philadelphia Eagles made one of the most significant moves in the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday. Philadelphia traded away multiple draft picks to acquire wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans. The former Ole Miss Rebel and former first-rounder DeVonta Smith give the Eagles a pair of elite receivers for quarterback Jalen Hurts. Brown discussed playing with the former Crimson Tide star in his introductory press conference.

“I know he’s excited and I’m excited to work with him, he has a lot of talent,” Brown said. “He’s a speedster guy, a great route-runner. He’s a speedster guy and I’m a guy that’s going to bring more physicality.”

Hurts is going to have his work cut out for him to keep production high for both wideouts. Smith posted a team-high 64 receptions for 916 yards and five touchdowns.

In three years with the Titans, Brown totaled 2,995 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns. His best year came in 2020 when he hauled in 70 receptions for 1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns to earn his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Even in a down year in 2021 with 13 appearances, Brown had 63 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns for Tennessee.

AJ Brown details relationship with new quarterback Jalen Hurts

Many have wondered about the relationship between AJ Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts. The two appear to have a great relationship with one another despite never having played together. And on Monday, during his introductory press conference, Brown explained just where that chemistry comes from.

“It started (when) he was recruiting me to Alabama, and I chose Ole Miss,” Brown said. “But we stayed in contact this entire time. We became really close friends. And you know I’m extremely excited to play with him. We always joked about it, but we never thought it would be reality.”

The two spent the majority of their collegiate career as SEC West rivals as Brown played for Ole Miss and Hurts for the Alabama Crimson Tide, then Oklahoma.

Despite being former rivals within not just the same conference but same division, the two friends now have a fresh opportunity to play with each other alongside another former Alabama star in DeVonta Smith.

On3’s Justin Rudolph contributed to this report.