A.J. Brown
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The Philadelphia Eagles hosted Ole Miss WR De'Zhaun Stribling on a pre-draft visit as trade rumors around A.J. Brown continue to circulate.
While NFL pundits continue to suggest A.J. Brown as a trade candidate, the Philadelphia Eagles are doing their homework on the 2026 NFL Draft wide receiver class.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Thursday the Eagles hosted Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling for a pre-draft visit. Stribling was one of the fastest wideouts at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
“The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Stribling ran a 4.36-second 40,” wrote Fowler on X.
Jeremy Fowler
Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling has pre-draft meetings with the Vikings, Bucs, Bears and Eagles, per source.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Stribling ran a 4.36-second 40.
That time ranked Stribling eighth among all receivers at the 2026 NFL combine.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected Stribling to be a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Long-striding, vertical-access wideout with steady play and production. Stribling has good size and early acceleration to climb over the top of coverage but lacks short-area quickness to gain separation underneath,” wrote Zierlein. “His downfield ball skills are above average but he struggles to consistently carve out catch space and fight through contested-catch contact for tight-coverage wins.
“He has legit speed after the catch once he finds open grass. He’s also one of the most competitive run blockers in the WR class. Stribling projects as an immediate WR4 who could eventually work his way into a starting role.”
Stribling is likely to go in the back half of the second round. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah didn’t include the Ole Miss receiver on his top 50 board.
At No. 54 overall, the Eagles have one second-round pick in 2026.
Why Eagles Could Pursue De’Zhaun Stribling, Other Wideouts in 2026 NFL Draft
A.J. Brown
GettyThe Philadelphia Eagles hosted Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling on a pre-draft visit as trade rumors around A.J. Brown continue to circulate.
The Eagles already added two receivers this offseason in NFL free agency — Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Elijah Moore. But Moore is a more minor addition, and if the team elects to trade Brown, then it would be wise for Philadelphia to have added another receiver in the draft.
Stribling wouldn’t be a plug-and-play replacement for Brown. But the Eagles have DeVonta Smith and could start Brown opposite him with Stribling contributing in a depth role.
Brown has been on the trade block for seemingly most of the offseason. At the NFL annual league meetings in March, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni conveyed the idea that they could trade the All-Pro receiver but don’t have to this spring.
It’s possible the team is waiting until after June 1 to trade Brown. The Eagles would gain a significant salary cap advantage by dealing the receiver in June instead of beforehand.
After June 1, Brown will have a dead cap hit of $16.35 million in Philadelphia if the Eagles trade him according to Over the Cap. His dead cap hit will be $43.44 million if traded before June 1.
FOX Sports’s Ralph Vacchiano was the latest to pitch Brown as a trade target for the New England Patriots this week.
On Tuesday, NFL.com’s Matt Okada named six top landing spots for Brown.
Will Eagles Need to Tread Lightly With WR Draft Pick Amid A.J. Brown Rumors?
A.J. Brown
GettyThe Philadelphia Eagles could still trade All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown this offseason.
If the Eagles plan to trade Brown after June 1, they are trying to thread a thin needle.
In June, there won’t be any suitor receiver replacements available for Brown. Therefore, the team has to add one through the draft.
But 94WIP.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks argued Tuesday the Eagles can’t draft a receiver in the first round if they want to continue holding leverage in Brown trade negotiations.
“One thing to consider with the NFL Draft and the AJ Brown situation: The Eagles lose basically all trade leverage the second they take a wide receiver in the first round,” wrote Shorr-Parks.
“If they take Boston/Tyson at 23 or move up for Tate, that signals AJ is gone — and impacts the trade return.”
That’s where Stribling could fit in for Philadelphia. The Ole Miss receiver could contribute as a rookie with or without Brown on the roster for the Eagles.
Drafting Stribling gives the Eagles depth, but it doesn’t make a Brown trade a foregone conclusion.