A.J. Brown kind of seems like an afterthought.
And we don't mean that in any kind of disrespectful way.
The Eagles are 14-3 and well-rested, set to host the Giants in the Divisional Playoffs Saturday. They have a shot at a Super Bowl, thanks to MVP-caliber quarterback play, one of the best pass rushes in NFL history and the best offensive line in football.
They also might have the best wide receiver in football.
If Hurts is the Eagles most valuable player, try and argue that Brown isn't the second most valuable. A draft night trade brought the former Titan to Philadelphia and his impact was immediate and immense. Hurts, who was growing like a weed into his superstar self, finally had a trusted target — a big, fast and gold gloved one at that — and it wouldn't be a stretch to argue that without Brown, Hurts does not succeed even close to as much as he has this season.
Not only does Brown demand the attention of the opposition's best cornerback, but he's also opened things up for second year wideout DeVonta Smith to emerge as an elite pass catcher in his own right. Brown set an Eagles record in 2022-23, tallying 1,496 yards (on 88 receptions), and Smith set a team record with 95 catches.
“It means a lot to leave my footprint on this organization," Brown said last week. "There were a lot of great receivers before me. For me to do it the first year, it means the world."
Brown is 25 and under contract until at least 2026, and Smith until 2025. Get used to them.
Here's how Brown, who earned second team All-Pro status (behind Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson and Devante Adams) ranks this season:
| Category | Stat | Rank |
| Yards | 1,496 | 4th |
| Targets | 145 | 10th |
| Yards per catch | 17.0 | 3rd |
| Yards per target | 12.3 | 2nd |
| Yards after catch | 538 | 6th |
| Yards per route | 2.9 | 2nd |
| Touchdowns | 11 | 3rd |
- MORE ON THE EAGLES
- Eytan Shander: 'The NFL truly needs the Eagles more than it knows'
- Who is better, Eagles or Giants: Offense edition
- Eagles-Giants divisional round injury report, with analysis
The stat nerds over at FiveThirtyEight.com have Brown as their No. 1 receiver of the year, giving him a total score of 90 (by their complicated metrics). Justin Jefferson (85), Stefon Diggs (84), Tyler Locket (84) and Smith (81) round out the website's top five.
In four NFL seasons, Brown already has an impressive 4,491 receiving yards on 273 catches for 35 touchdowns.
The NFL used to be a league with wide receivers in the spotlight, but it's become more driven by the star power of its quarterbacks in recent years. Brown is in a big market in Philly and he has a big personality. Perhaps he's on the verge of becoming one of those guys.
Follow Evan on Twitter:@evan_macy
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports