Bills Inquired On Eagles’ A.J. Brown; Patriots, Ravens In Play For WR?

Days before free agency’s outset, the Bills made an early strike by agreeing to acquire D.J. Moore from the Bears. This move cost a second-round pick , but it secured them a talented wide receiver — a former Joe Brady Panthers pupil — who is signed through 2029. Buffalo may not be done at the need area.

Before acquiring Moore, the Bills asked about a bigger fish. They are believed to have checked in with the Eagles on A.J. Brown, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Philly is eyeing a Quinnen Williams-type trade package, which would feature a first-rounder and a second — with the first potentially coming in 2027.

As Connor Byrne’s Eagles Offseason Outlook noted, the team owes Brown a $4MM 2027 guarantee on March 13. Moving on before that date would make the six-time 1,000-yard receiver responsible for that guarantee. While a $4MM number may not represent a good enough reason for the Eagles to make a hasty decision with their No. 1 receiver, plenty of smoke has emerged regarding a Brown relocation.

The Patriots and Ravens are viewed as the most likely destination for Brown, according to McLane, who adds the Eagles do not appear to be planning to trade their top pass catcher to an NFC team. It would be historically punitive for Philly to move on from Brown before June 1; that explains why the team is asking for a monster trade package — even when teams may be viewing the eighth-year WR to be worth a second-rounder-centered offer. With Moore going for what he did after a 682-yard season, Howie Roseman is unlikely to move off his asking price.

If Brown is still an Eagle next season, he will count an affordable $23.39MM against their salary cap. On the other hand, trading Brown before June 1 would level the Eagles with a 43.45MM dead cap charge, a record for his position. They would also lose $20.12MM in spending room.

The Eagles filled Brown’s contract with option bonuses, keeping cap hits low but increasing the damage in a trade this early in a through-2029 contract. An acquiring team would owe Brown $29MM guaranteed for 2026 and be responsible for the $4MM 2027 guarantee. That seems reasonable for a player of Brown’s abilities, even though the ex-Titans draftee has proven to be a high-maintenance weapon.

This marks the first Ravens-Brown connection. The team is not known for such splashy moves, and it has Zay Flowers contracted for two more years — once his fifth-year option is exercised. Baltimore also extended Rashod Bateman last year, giving him a three-year deal worth $36.75MM.

Flowers is also extension-eligible. Although the Ravens can backload a deal for the 2023 first-rounder, they also have a quarterback on a big-ticket contract to go with eight-figure AAVs at running back and tight end. The Ravens, as PFR’s Nikhil Mehta noted in his Offseason Outlook, will try to extend Lamar Jackson this year. A restructure would need to take place otherwise, as Jackson is due to count an untenable $74.5MM on the 2026 cap.

The Patriots do not have these issues. After the news of Stefon Diggs‘ impending release, the defending AFC champions no longer have a notable contract at receiver. Hunter Henry is signed to a team-friendly TE deal, while Rhamondre Stevenson is also south of $10MM per year.

Most importantly, the Pats have Drake Maye at a rookie rate. That will likely change in 2027, but such a deal can/will be backloaded. That opens the door for some spending, and the Diggs exit creates a major need. While a report indicated the Patriots may be unlikely to pursue big trades, that surfaced before the Diggs cut. Brown also spent three seasons playing for Mike Vrabel in Tennessee.

As for the Bills, Moore will join Khalil Shakir as Josh Allen‘s lead receivers. Buffalo may not be done, with Essentiallysports.com’s Tony Pauline noting the team plans to add another WR piece via free agency or the draft. The Bills are presently $31MM-plus over the cap, with restructures coming soon to reach compliance. The Moore contract will make matters a bit tight for the AFC East power to keep adding, but Pauline adds Romeo Doubs has been mentioned as a player the Bills are expected to target.

Ranked 11th among PFR’s top 50 free agents, Doubs brings an age advantage on fellow FA wideouts Jauan Jennings, Rashid Shaheed, Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans. While Alec Pierce will be the market’s top receiver, Doubs (26 in April) should do well next week. The four-year Packer has three 600-plus-yard seasons on his resume, including a career-high 724 (on 13.2 yards per catch) in 2025. The Bills will not be alone in pursuing the 204-pound WR.