Camila Sosa
Several reports have surfaced in recent days surrounding A.J. Brown and the Tennessee Titans, which indicate that the team is not open to moving the player to another franchise.
These reports may come as a surprise to many considering the current status of contract extension negotiations for the coveted 24-year-old wide receiver, which have stalled as the Starkville, Mississippi native enters his final year of his rookie contract in the NFL.
A.J. Brown knows very well that players of his profile – talented and young – have a great lineup this offseason, so he will surely be looking forward to a very profitable contract in terms of numbers. And that’s because, regarding numbers, Brown has been an extremely important player in Tennessee since his breakout in 2019.
The Titans’ #11 recorded 869 yards and 63 receptions (average of 13.8 yards per reception) in 2021 along with five touchdowns, and put on a show in the playoff showdown of Tennessee against the eventual finalist Bengals with five receptions on nine attempts, and also rushed for a total of 142 yards and scored a touchdown in the 19-16 loss.
A.J. Brown’s Numbers and Future with the Titans
While his 2021 numbers were slightly lower than those he posted in 2020, which earned him a call to the Pro Bowl after leading the Titans in receptions (70) and yards per pass (1075) – both career highs so far – and tying a franchise record in the Titans era (1999-present) for most touchdowns per pass (11), A.J. Brown is poised to be one of the best players at his position in the future, which is why teams like the New York Jets are keeping an eye on what happens with these negotiations.
A.J. Brown’s arrival with the Titans has helped the team greatly, as they have qualified for the playoffs in every season (2019-2021) since the rookie suited up in Southern apparel. Prior to this positive period for the franchise, the Titans had qualified for the playoffs just three times in the 11 seasons prior to 2019 (2007, 2008, 2017), so their influence has been notable.
With this in mind, it would not be surprising if A.J. Brown maintained his firm stance in negotiations, as he could go so far as to point out that the Titans have much more to lose than he does should they not match his claims for the new contract.
As a result, Titans general manager Jon Robinson has his work cut out for him heading into next season if he wants to maintain the current core of the team that has brought so much joy to the fans recently, and that could mean a before and after in this stage of the franchise as it seeks to establish itself as one of the benchmarks in American soccer.
