Less than two weeks remain until the A.J. Brown trade window truly opens, with June 2 looming as the point where the Eagles‘ financial burden would ease and create a manageable dead money blow for 2026. However, Philadelphia may not move on immediately after that pivotal date.
The Eagles could certainly hang onto their top wide receiver for weeks or months beyond June 2 in hopes a bidding war drives up the price. Philly has been insistent on receiving a first-round pick in a Brown swap. The most recent known talks with the Patriots — long viewed as Brown’s most likely destination — had not involved a Round 1 choice being proposed. Without other serious suitors, however, New England could keep its price where it is and wait for Philadelphia to relent.
[RELATED: Stefon Diggs Patriots Return Could Hinge On Brown Path]
If talks with the Pats continue down this path, the Eagles will surely reassess other teams’ interest. Revisiting Rams negotiations may be prudent for the seller here, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes the Eagles’ talks with the NFC West club advanced further than their Patriots negotiations the first time around.
The Rams entered into Davante Adams trade talks, in a scenario in which Brown would effectively replace the 33-year-old standout, but the accomplished pass catcher remains on Los Angeles’ roster. Uncertainty around Puka Nacua has emerged this offseason as well, with a rehab stint — after a woman alleged Nacua bit her twice, made an antisemitic remark and exhibited “rude or vulgar, threatening, violent, and harassing conduct” — taking place this year. The first-team All-Pro came up as an extension candidate, as this is his contract year, but that noise has quieted. It is worth wondering if the Rams will table that goal for now.
With Adams set to turn 34 before this season ends and both he and Nacua in contract years, the Rams could reengage on Brown, who is controlled through 2029. It would be interesting if the team showed an openness to acquiring Brown without offloading one of its top two wideouts.
The Rams have more than $20MM in effective cap space, with Ty Simpson‘s rookie deal not yet finalized. Brown is tied to a veteran-minimum salary (for cap purposes) but is due a guaranteed $27.45MM option bonus before the season. Brown, who already has a $4MM guarantee for 2027, is due option bonuses worth $19.41MM, $29.36MM and $28.32MM from 2027-29.
L.A. considered Makai Lemon and Kenyon Sadiq at No. 13 before deciding to draft Simpson, who had not been expected to go off the board that early. It would be interesting to see if Brown could represent a method of Matthew Stafford appeasement, as a Nacua-Adams-Brown trio would be on the short list for best in NFL history. Brown would also give the Rams, in theory, a pass catcher to build around beyond this season. It would be interesting to see if the Rams would swing the door open for a Nacua tag-and-trade move in 2027 if they pulled off a Brown acquisition, but some moving parts would come with such a transaction.
The Rams are certainly not shy about trading first-round picks. Les Snead has traded future firsts on five separate occasions over the past decade — with the Jared Goff trade-up preceding the Stafford, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey and Trent McDuffie swaps — and the team no longer needs to hold its 2027 or ’28 firsts for a quarterback move.
With Stafford going into an age-38 season, it would stand to reason the Rams are open for business with regards to moving a future first to strengthen their 2026 roster. A Stafford extension — which is widely expected — would also reduce the reigning MVP’s cap number ($48.27MM) and increase 2026 flexibility.
Roseman has set a firm asking price of a first-rounder, Garafolo adds. Even though the Eagles’ acquisitions of Lemon, Marquise Brown, Dontayvion Wicks make it quite likely Brown will be moved, the team could hold out in hopes better value arrives in a deal later in the summer. Trade parameters, though, could already be in place with the Patriots. A first-rounder — perhaps in 2028 — should be expected in a deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler said during a 97.5 The Fan interview (h/t Yardbarker), but it is unlikely the Eagles land more than that here. The Eagles had previously hoped for first- and second-round picks for Brown, but Fowler does not expect such a haul to materialize.
Offers have come in for Brown, Bleacher Report’s James Palmer said during an Up & Adams appearance (h/t PhillyVoice.com), but no trade negotiations have taken place recently. That could set up a long ending to this saga, as the Eagles certainly do not have to move Brown in early June.
The Bills also inquired on Brown before acquiring D.J. Moore, while the Ravens — linked to Brown earlier this year — loom as a possible suitor as well. The Chiefs just saw more hurdles emerge for Rashee Rice, leaving Xavier Worthy as the team’s only safe bet to be a notable receiver on their 2027 roster.
Jaylen Waddle fetched first- and third-round picks from the Broncos, and the Eagles assuredly took notice regarding their effort to move Brown. Waddle did not post Brown-like numbers in Miami but was also not seen as a distraction, which Brown certainly has been in Philly.
New England should probably still be considered the favorite here. But the Eagles failing to see a first-rounder put on the table would create an interesting decision for Roseman, given his offseason investments at the position. This saga stretching past early June will be squarely in play in the event unsatisfactory offers continue to emerge.
Perhaps too soon to be using the word “suitors” in any column involving “talks” with New England.
They’d be crazy to give a #1 for him.