It increasingly seems like an A.J. Brown trade could come together. Despite the financial implications of such a deal, the Eagles seem motivated to move the 28-year-old, though it will likely take a significant offer to make it worth their while.
The Patriots are the “most interested” in trading for Brown, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Chargers have also been linked to a deal, but the presence of Mike Vrabel (and the lack of a star wideout) in New England make it a logical destination. Stefon Diggs was the first Patriot to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season since Julian Edelman in 2019, and he will not be around next year.
New England’s current receiver room is comprised of veteran Mack Hollins, 2023 draftees Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas, and last year’s rookies, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism. The first three had solid 2025 campaigns but only combined for 110 catches and 1,548 receiving yards, while Williams and Chism both made a few plays downfield but did little beyond that.
Hollins offers a steady floor but a low ceiling. Boutte and Douglas both showed signs of development with career-best efficiency metrics. And Williams and Chism could certainly become more consistent contributors. But a team hoping to avoid a Super Bowl hangover needs to be proactive to do so. Rather than waiting until the summer (or later) to upgrade their receiving corps, trading for Brown now would allow the Patriots to take a ‘best player available’ approach to April’s draft.
It would also reunite Brown with Vrabel, which could alleviate some of the locker room concerns with acquiring the infamously expressive wideout. He would also replace Diggs as a proven, high-end veteran target for Drake Maye. The two have similar pedigrees, but Brown is four years younger with better statistics across the last three years.
Meeting the Eagles’ reported asking price of first- and second-round picks is doable for the Patriots. They can be more willing to move draft capital for veterans while Maye and other key players at expensive positions are on rookie deals.
Philadelphia will still have to figure out a way to accommodate the net decrease in cap space resulting from dealing Brown, but both sides seem ready to move on, and, as a result, the Patriots seem ready to move in.
Is this the first draft where multiple teams have multiple 1st round draft picks? Assuming this deal comes true. Jets, LV, KC, & maybe the Pats. I think I have them all.
Browns as well.
No. Off the top of my head, 2020 and 2022 had multiple teams with multiple firsts. I can’t recall this many teams having multiple firsts, though.
2000 draft the Jets had 4 first round picks
Release Diggs only to trade a boatload for A.J. Brown. I understand Diggs’ legal issues were a concern, and as far as I know Brown hasn’t had any, but Brown is a distraction in a different type of way. I’m not sure I totally get the process from New England’s perspective.
A FA like Pierce makes more sense, if they can get him. Younger and he only costs money, not draft capital. Even though the Pats made the SB last season, they have a LOT of holes left to fill.
Would that signal giving up on Kyle Williams already though? It seems Pierce would take Williams’ deep threat role that he would presumably step into more next season, not that that’s necessarily a bad thing when you’re adding a very talented player.
I dont know. For a deep ball QB like Maye, having options isn’t a bad thing. You dont know who’s going deep, if theyre both going deep, etc. The tight ends and backs would have a lot of room to operate.
Great point, rd42. And Williams is still cheap, so it doesn’t hurt to keep him around.
Yeah and if they’re willing to deal a first round pick, Brian Thomas Jr. might be available. Less proven, but so much younger and with two cheap years remaining.
I agree. BTJ makes way more sense for almost every franchise, imo.
Part of the problem is that the Eagles would take such a financial hit from trading him that what makes it worth it for them to deal him and what it’s worth it to another team to deal for him might not line up well enough.
The Eagles clearly don’t care about what makes sense. Once they’ve made the decision to move on from a player, that’s it. It doesn’t matter how stupid it is.
Look at the CJGJ trade for the most recent example but there are plenty of them.
They only cleared less than a million in cap space from that trade but still did it because they wanted him gone.
The Eagles are going to trade him, and they’re probably going to drop their asking price to do it.
This is what they have done for years. It is inevitable and has been ever since they started scapegoating him and deciding he’s the problem.
What star WR exactly do they think will put up with the nonsense though?
You clearly don’t follow the Eagles. I love the way you state things as facts, Random internet stranger
I’ve followed the Eagles my entire life. You’re embarrassing.
Devonta Smith.
Eventually DeVonta will get fed up with it, too. He already has at times.
And in case you forgot, “fans” tried to scapegoat him in 2024 and crap on him to deflect blame from Hurts.
He might, he might not. I agree, it’s ridiculous he was attacked, and Smith is better at his job than Hurts is at his, but the front office can’t control the fans.
It’s amazing that somebody actually like wrote this like, they took the time to write or use AI to write something that has absolutely no substance to it. Except a recap. It’s amazing.
It’s going to happen. Accept it.
They want him gone, and this is what they do to players they want gone.
Any actual Eagles fan knows that after the many, many examples of it.
You know this is a rumors site, right? I’m not sure what you’re quibbling about exactly.
It’s a rumors site but most of the major rumors end up being true.
And look who they’re quoting. Ian Rappaport. An actual serious sports journalist who only shares verified information from credible sources.
I guess I’m just confused where FTA’s problem lies with this article.
Eagles will have to eat some money on that contract if they want a 1st and 2nd.
Nobody is taking Aj Brown at 32 mill a year straight up for a 1st and 2nd
They’ll have to knock him down damn near towards 15-20 range
He’s already being paid top 10 money
Any team acquiring him has to realize Aj brown is about Aj brown and Will WILL sit out for a new deal unless he’s given one within the next 3 years
You’re gonna need to feed him the ball so if your HC OC cannot facilitate creating openings for him I honestly wouldn’t take on that personality
You literally have no proof he’ll sit out games. None. This is a narrative you made up in your head.
He’s also never been a diva about not getting the ball unless he was wide open and the team was losing. He called out the offense for being a problem and called out his coaches and teammates for expecting to put it all together late in the season and make a run rather than trying to fix what was broken, and he was right.
He put up with a lot of nonsense before that.
And in case you don’t remember, DeVonta Smith has gone at Hurts the exact same way over being wide open and Hurts not even trying to get him the ball.
He’s a 28 29 year old wr tied to a contract that will soon push him out of top 10 territory cause he’s 7th
There’s gonna be a sit out while he haggles for a new contract. Now does that mean he won’t play games? No. That could be he sits out may camps sits out pre season sits out that stuff does a sit in during practices. Regardless how he does it unless he’s given a new top of the market contract within 3 years.
“ He’s also never been a diva about not getting the ball unless he was wide open and the team was losing. He called out the offense for being a problem and called out his coaches and teammates for expecting to put it all together late in the season”
So eagles are expecting a 1st and 2nd for a guy who gets disgruntled when things aren’t going well(losing) and starts pointing fingers publicly (teammates coaches) at everybody but himself and how actions contribute towards the losing? You’re selling him REALLY well here
No Devontas was a little bit different citing missed opportunity for big plays and timing needs to be worked on between him and hurts. He didn’t call out coaches and other players he talked about needing to be on same page as his QB and defended him despite criticism of his play from outside stuff.