A.J. Brown Fallout: Roseman, Rams, Hurts
The long-awaited A.J. Brown trade between the Eagles and Patriots finally came together on Monday. Before agreeing to ship out a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder for Brown, the Patriots held out hope the Eagles would accept a package headlined by a second-rounder, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The sides began discussing the 2028 first-rounder about a month ago, Rapoport adds.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was not going to move Brown unless he got a Round 1 selection back, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.
Speaking with the media on Monday, Roseman said: “I think that when we looked at the totality of the circumstances and having the conversations we had with him, felt like where we were, where we were going, where he was, that if we could find something that kind of achieved our goals of getting a first-round pick going forward here in the near future, getting the money back to spend on other players on our team and other teams, and it was a win-win situation based on where he was and how he felt, we were open to that.”
The first-rounder Roseman received is still two years down the line, but having to wait isn’t a big deal to him.
“We’ve always been in the mindset a pick is a pick — a first-round pick is a first-round pick,” he said. “Doesn’t matter. Teams are still going to be playing football in 2028.”
The Eagles now have two firsts in 2028, which Roseman regards as “a huge, huge part of this move.” Meanwhile, the Patriots have a new No. 1 receiver in Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro who is entering his age-29 campaign. Brown will reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel, a key figure earlier in his career in Tennessee. Brown played for Vrabel over his first three seasons.
In a post-trade interview with Maria Taylor on “7PM in Brooklyn,” Brown revealed he thought his “time was up” in Philadelphia after the season. While Brown went over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his seven-year career, he voiced frustration with the Eagles’ sputtering offense on multiple occasions. Brown admitted he should have gone about things differently in public and on social media, but he noted: “Nothing I said was ever for personal gain. it was to help the team win.”
Philadelphia ran roughshod over the NFL during a 14-win regular season in 2024 and capped off the campaign with a blowout victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The team took home its second straight NFC East title last year, but it hardly resembled the juggernaut from the previous season. The Eagles went 11-6 and quickly bowed out of the playoffs in a wild-card round loss to the 49ers. Brown believes the defending champion Eagles pressed as a result of the high expectations they placed on themselves. He also revealed he and quarterback Jalen Hurts drifted apart during the season.
“Not as close as we once were,” Brown said. “And I believe that’s fine. There’s no bad blood. There’s actually still a lot of love.”
Brown will now work with a new quarterback in the Patriots’ Drake Maye, though there was a possibility of him joining Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. The Rams ultimately bowed out of trade talks, leaving New England as the only real suitor for Brown. It turns out the Rams backed out because they “weren’t satisfied by what they saw” in Brown’s medicals, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer said on the “unCovering the Birds” podcast.
Brown has a history of knee issues, but Roseman downplayed that when McLane asked and lauded the receiver’s durability. He missed six of a possible 68 regular-season games with the Eagles, though a few of those absences came as a result of hamstring problems.
When asked about his knee after the trade, Brown responded (via Karen Guregian of MassLive.com): “Maybe in four years I’ve missed one game from a shot to the knee. So, that’s nothing to worry about. I’m ready to go.”
Pats Acquire A.J. Brown From Eagles
After months of speculation, the A.J. Brown saga will finally reach an expected conclusion. The Eagles are trading the star wide receiver to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The fifth-round selection will be the higher of the two New England owns (it also has Chicago’s), per Albert Breer of SI.com. It’s a conditional pick, according to Howard Balzer of Cards Wire.
This is the second trade centering on Brown, who entered the NFL as the Titans’ second-rounder in 2019. Brown excelled in his three years in Tennessee, but after a contract impasse, the team dealt him to the Eagles for a first- and third-rounder in 2022.
The swap worked out beautifully for Philadelphia, which gave Brown a four-year, $100MM extension and saw him turn into one of the greatest players in franchise history. He earned second-team All-Pro honors three times and picked up three Pro Bowl nods during his four years as an Eagle. Brown was also an integral part of a Super Bowl-winning team in 2024.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old Brown wrapped up his Eagles tenure with 339 receptions, 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns in 62 regular-season games. He played full seasons in Philadelphia from 2022-23, but knee and ankle issues held him out of four games in 2024. He missed another two contests last year with a hamstring injury, but Brown still led the Eagles in targets (121) and catches (78).
Brown finished second on the Eagles’ 2025 squad in yards (1,003) and touchdowns (seven). However, Brown voiced displeasure over the Eagles’ struggling offense at various points in 2025. Owner Jeffrey Lurie met with Brown in mid-November and asked him to stop airing his grievances on social media.
The Eagles were an excellent 7-2 when Lurie visited with Brown, but they played .500 ball for the rest of the year. While that was enough for an 11-6 finish and a second straight NFC East title, the Eagles flamed out in the wild-card round. The offense looked lifeless in a 23-19 home loss to the 49ers, who held Brown to just three catches and 25 yards on seven targets. He dropped two passes and had a memorable first-half sideline dust-up with head coach Nick Sirianni. Although Sirianni downplayed it afterward and said the two “have a special relationship,” the incident added fuel to a potential trade at the outset of the Eagles’ offseason.
Despite Brown’s dissatisfaction with how last year went, general manager Howie Roseman was not going to give him away for anything less than a major offer. Roseman originally wanted a first- and second-rounder for Brown, who reportedly had the Patriots, Rams, Chiefs, Bills and Chargers on his wish list. However, only the Patriots and Rams were aggressive in talks for Brown.
After the draft passed with no deal, Roseman sought a first-rounder in what many expect to be a loaded 2027 class. Nobody bit, though, and the Rams wound up dropping out of the running. That left New England as the obvious destination for Brown, who will now reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel. The two formed a rapport when they were together in Tennessee for three years.
It was far more palatable from a financial standpoint for the Eagles to part with Brown after 4 p.m. ET on June 1, which largely explains the delay. Had Roseman traded Brown before then, the Eagles would have taken on a $43.51MM dead cap hit and lost $20.12MM in spending space. Waiting enables the Eagles to spread that money over the next two seasons ($16.35MM in 2026 and $27.1MM in ’27). They will also pick up $7MM in cap room this season. They entered the day with approximately $24.84MM available.
The Patriots came into the day with over $43MM in cap space, giving them plenty of room to take on Brown’s contract. He signed a second Eagles extension – a four-year, $96MM pact with $84MM in guarantees – in April 2024. That deal runs through 2029. While it remains to be seen if Brown will play it all the way through, he will give the Patriots and franchise quarterback Drake Maye a much-needed No. 1 receiver in the near term.
Stefon Diggs was New England’s most productive receiver during its shocking 14-3 regular season and run to Super Bowl LX in 2025. However, a few weeks after the Seahawks knocked off the Patriots in the Super Bowl, they released Diggs. The Pats subsequently brought in former Packer Romeo Doubs on a four-year, $68MM agreement in free agency, though he has been more of a No. 2/3 during his four-year career.
Brown and Doubs are in line to start for New England in 2026, while Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams are also among those in the fold. It is worth pointing out that the addition of Brown could bump someone from that group. Specifically, recent reports have named Boutte and Douglas as players who might be in jeopardy.
Joining the third team of his career, Brown will shoot for his seventh 1,000-yard season in 2026. His presence will be difficult for the Eagles to replace, but they did their best to prepare for his exit throughout the offseason. Before drafting former USC standout Makai Lemon 20th overall, the Eagles traded for ex-Packer Dontayvion Wicks and signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency.
Moore is not a lock to make the roster, but Lemon, Wicks and Marquise Brown are sure to give quarterback Jalen Hurts options behind new No. 1 wideout DeVonta Smith. The Eagles also have a pair of talented pass-catching tight ends in Dallas Goedert and second-rounder Eli Stowers, the 54th pick in the draft. It will be up to rookie offensive coordinator Sean Mannion to make it work as the Eagles begin life after Brown.
Eagles, Patriots Still Negotiating A.J. Brown Trade; Philadelphia Open To Accepting 2028 First-Round Pick
JUNE 1: Anderson reports discussions today will center around the possibility of 2027 draft picks being included in the long-awaited Brown trade. For now, though, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes this deal is still expected to consist of Brown being sent to New England for a 2028 first-rounder. The last-minute emergence of another suitor is not expected to take place.
MAY 28: The countdown to June 1 continues as it pertains to an A.J. Brown trade. The swap ending his Eagles tenure is still expected to take place and send him to New England, but there is work to be done between those two teams.
An official Brown-to-New England move is not guaranteed to be in place when it is first feasible to be finalized, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network cautions (video link). Brown’s contract will be far easier to absorb after June 1, something driving the lengthy waiting period before clarity emerges in his case. Rapoport confirms the Patriots remain the expected destination for Brown, 29 next month, so a reunion with head coach Mike Vrabel continues to loom.
Philadelphia and New England have not yet agreed to the price of a Brown trade, per Rapoport and The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. Anderson adds a swap of picks may wind up taking place once the trade is official. A Day 1 selection continues to be sought out by Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. Especially if the Patriots wind up agreeing to meet it, it will be interesting to see if draft capital attached to Brown and his contract gets sought out by New England.
The Eagles discussed a Brown trade prior to last month’s draft, but their attention ultimately turned to next year’s edition. The 2027 class is held in very high regard (especially compared to this year’s), and that factor is no doubt driving part of New England’s hesitation to part with a first-rounder next year. Roseman has shown a willingness to take draft picks two years into the future as part of a trade, however. That could come into play in this case.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes the Eagles discussed a 2028 first-round pick when speaking about a Brown trade earlier this offseason. That conversation took place with a team other than the Patriots, he adds. The non-New England market on this front has been largely quiet, although the Rams have been mentioned as a suitor. Nevertheless, Los Angeles is now seen as being out of the running for Brown.
Across his four years with the Eagles, Brown racked up 5,034 yards and 32 receiving touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowler helped Philadelphia win Super Bowl LIX, but his level of satisfaction within the team’s offense in general and his on-field relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts in particular increasingly became a talking point over time. Indications from the team and Hurts have pointed to a separation being expected relatively soon. It still remains to be seen if trade terms can be worked out with the Patriots over the coming days, however.
Framework ‘In Place’ For A.J. Brown Trade?
MAY 31: While the term “framework” is a bit nebulous, and while Breer did concede the Eagles and Patriots still have to hammer out all of the trade details, a fundamental issue in these protracted talks appears to remain unresolved. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link), the Patriots are still not “overly crazy” about giving up a first-round pick (presumably, this refers to a 2028 pick as well as a ‘27 choice).
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald spoke with various sources about fair compensation in a Brown swap and received differing opinions. One source called Brown a “declining asset” and argued a Day 1 choice was too rich, while another pointed out that the Broncos had to give up a first-rounder to acquire Jaylen Waddle, who is less than two years younger than Brown and who does not have the same history of production.
Fowler suggests attaching a condition to a draft pick or even an arrangement in which Philadelphia sends a pick back to New England could help push the negotiations over the finish line.
MAY 30: There has been no shortage of coverage for the situation concerning Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and a potential offseason trade. At this point, it’s become widely accepted that the team will ship Brown off to New England, but they will wait until after June 1 to do so. Well, in the latest development from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com), there’s belief that “the framework is in place” for the trade to occur this week.
To run through a brief timeline, following several incidents that seemed to paint a picture of an unhappy Brown in Philadelphia, reports emerged near the end of the 2025 NFL season that the Eagles would consider trading the three-time second-team All-Pro they had acquired four years ago after sending a first-round pick to Tennessee. By the time the season had ended and a new champion had been crowned, even Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni hinted at the future in telling the media that he couldn’t guarantee Brown would return for 2026.
One of the two teams that made it to Super Bowl LX — the one that fell just short of the season’s ultimate goal — expressed early interest in Brown, linking the former Titans wideout to his former head coach in New England. The Patriots were not alone in their pursuit, though, as the Bills, Ravens, and Rams emerged as teams to watch for the veteran pass catcher. The Bills seemed to remove themselves from the conversation, though, after successfully acquiring former Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a second-rounder.
The Rams reached out to Philadelphia, and trade talks progressed to the point that Los Angeles began exploring the idea of trading away veteran wide receiver Davante Adams. It was rumored that talks with the Rams had progressed even further than the Eagles’ discussions with New England, but ultimately, Los Angeles was ruled out as a potential trade destination for Brown.
With the Rams out, a few other teams were rumored with little substance, but interest out of New England remained a constant, even after the team made a strong move to improve its receiving corps by signing former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. Veteran wideout Stefon Diggs also expressed interest in re-signing to stay with the Patriots as a free agent, but adding another big contract to that position room was something the Patriots were only willing to do if they missed out on Brown.
At first, the Eagles had intentions of completing some solution for the situation with Brown before the start of free agency, but as time went on, it became clear that the team intended to wait until after June 1 to make a trade happen in order to avoid incurring massive dead cap figures. Any trade before that date would shoulder the team with $43.45MM in dead money, and Brown would still account for $20.06MM of their cap space for the season. A post-June 1 trade would still leave Philadelphia with $16.35MM in dead money, but it would also clear $7.04MM in cap space.
With this realization, it was considered to be “inevitable” that Brown would be traded once June arrived. As if to emphasize that point, Philadelphia approached the 2026 NFL Draft with the mindset that it would not have Brown for 2026 and walked away from the first round having drafted USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, a clear replacement for the departing veteran. With the Eagles set, the only question that remained concerned Brown’s future home and compensation.
Expectations continued to point to the Patriots as the likeliest other participant in the inevitable exchange, but New England seemed to balk at the idea of utilizing a first-round selection to acquire Brown. The Eagles’ initial ask was for a first- and second-round package (specifically, with a first-rounder in 2027), though Brown’s value was perceived to be more like a packaged headlined by a second-round pick. Two days ago, it was reported that the Eagles and Patriots were still negotiating but that Philadelphia had opened its mind to accepting a 2028 first-round pick.
In our latest update from Breer, he clarifies that the exact terms and conditions of the deal may still need to be hammered out, but with the framework in place, he asserts that it “would take somebody backing out” for the trade not to occur. At this point, it would be a surprise if a team backed out, so all signs are pointing to Brown becoming a Patriot early in the coming week.
Eagles Eyeing 2027 First-Rounder For WR A.J. Brown; Rams No Longer Suitors
A.J. Brown will remain a member of the Eagles through at least June 1. A trade after that upcoming date is still expected, although an agreement between Philadelphia and Brown’s long-presumed next team does not appear to be in place.
[RELATED: Chiefs Have Not Pursued Brown]
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms (video link) the Patriots are still considered the likeliest team to swing a trade in this case. Negotiations have taken place throughout the offseason on a swap which would see Brown reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel. To no surprise, though, the matter of the price in a trade is still unresolved.
The Patriots have not previously been willing to part with a first-round pick to acquire Brown. Rapoport notes Philadelphia continues to seek a Day 1 selection in the 2027 draft, one projected to be much stronger than the class from last month’s event. New England’s preference, meanwhile, remains a lower price to finalize the trade. It will be interesting to see the Patriots’ efforts to avoid outbidding themselves ultimately result in an agreement relatively soon.
The Rams have loomed as a strong Brown suitor at times this spring. Rapoport adds Los Angeles was the three-time Pro Bowler’s preferred destination, but he will not be heading there. Despite the fact previous talks between the Eagles and Rams went further than they did with the Patriots, Rapoport confirms Los Angeles is no longer in the running for Brown. Once the Rams elected to retain Davante Adams, the expectation emerged that he would spend a second season with the team as a complement to Puka Nacua.
Both Nacua and Adams are pending 2027 free agents as things stand. That led many to connect Los Angeles to wideout Makai Lemon ahead of the first round of the draft, but the Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall instead. The Rams’ decision on that front helped allow the Eagles to trade up to No. 20 and draft Lemon, their latest move to bring in a new receiver and help soften the impact of the long-anticipated Brown departure.
The Patriots currently have roughly $35.5MM in cap space. Absorbing the remainder of Brown’s contract – which runs through 2029 – should be feasible as a result. The possibility of trade talks picking up between Philadelphia and New England will make for an intriguing storyline with the window of opportunity for a swap opening soon.
Chiefs Did Not Show Interest In A.J. Brown Earlier This Offseason
The Chiefs‘ issues at wide receiver have impacted their offensive production during the mid-2020s. After Patrick Mahomes‘ 2022 MVP season, Kansas City’s offense has ranked 15th, 15th and 21st in scoring over the past three campaigns. An upper-crust defense helped cover for the team’s offensive issues en route to Super Bowls LVIII and LIX, but Kansas City’s recent attacks have not approached the stratospheric heights of the early Mahomes period.
Since the Tyreek Hill trade, the Chiefs have missed in the draft (Skyy Moore), in free agency (Marquise Brown) and via trade (Kadarius Toney) at wide receiver. The team’s DeAndre Hopkins trade brought regular-season success but next to nothing in the 2024 playoffs. Xavier Worthy has also been more of an auxiliary weapon than a higher-end option. The Chiefs will be counting on Worthy this year, as they have been unable to depend on their top post-Hill receiver — Rashee Rice — since a productive rookie season.
Rice has missed extensive time due to injuries and a suspension. His most recent stumble involved trouble on both fronts, with a recent probation violation leading to the strange situation where the fourth-year wide receiver is now recovering from knee surgery in a Dallas prison. The latest Rice issue has moved an extension off the radar for the time being, and given the oddity this surgery rehab now brings, the Chiefs’ top wideout may need more recovery time. After the team did not draft a receiver until Round 5 (Cyrus Allen), rumblings about pursuing veteran help have emerged.
The Chiefs are being connected to the Stefon Diggs market, and Hill — presuming he recovers from a severe knee injury sustained last September — would represent a logical fit. Each would require only money to land, whereas A.J. Brown would involve trade compensation.
Prying Brown from the Eagles is likely to require a first-round pick, perhaps in 2028, and the Patriots — perhaps with some outside threats — are viewed as the favorites to land the former Titans draftee. Brown, however, put the Chiefs on his destination list earlier this offseason. As it stands, the Chiefs may not have similar interest.
Kansas City rejected a Philadelphia overture on Brown earlier this year, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who notes the Chiefs “said no” to the Eagles on a potential trade opportunity. Brown included the Chiefs, Patriots, Bills and Chargers as desirable destinations. The lead Philly pass catcher does not have a no-trade clause, giving the team full control over his next destination (assuming the Eagles follow through with the long-rumored trade).
Brown is tied to a $32MM-per-year contract that features a full 2026 compensation guarantee and a $4MM guarantee in 2027. Brown being a six-time 1,000-yard receiver makes those figures reasonable (even considering his spree of role-related gripes), as the receiver market is now past $42MM AAV via Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s March extension. It is possible the Chiefs reconsider on Brown due to the latest Rice setback, but Breer doubts that will happen. The team has not been big spenders at receiver since trading Hill.
The Chiefs have never authorized a receiver contract north of $18MM per year (Hill’s 2019 contract). Though Kansas City was negotiating an extension with Hill in 2022, the Raiders’ Davante Adams extension (five years, $140MM) changed the equation. The Chiefs opted to cash out on Hill rather than authorize a near-top-market re-up. The team has kept costs low at receiver since, with Hollywood Brown’s two $7MM deals the top contractual commitment for the team post-Hill.
Diggs joined the Patriots on a three-year, $63.5MM accord last March, but only $16.6MM of that pact came guaranteed at signing. That proved notable, as the Pats cut Diggs before a 2027 guarantee was set to vest. Diggs will turn 33 later this year, which will limit his earning power. The Chiefs also have other FA options in the event they add a player here, which was a rumored possibility before news of Rice’s probation violation surfaced. Hopkins, Deebo Samuel and Keenan Allen are also unattached.
With Rice on shaky ground regarding a long-term investment — as a franchise tag would be more logical even if he rebounds in 2026 — the Chiefs have Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Allen and 2025 fourth-rounder Jalen Royals signed beyond this season (Royals, however, barely played as a rookie).
The team pursuing Brown ahead of his age-29 season would bring in a multiyear option, while one of the 30-somethings in free agency may well only cover a 2026 rental. But it would also be costly. The Chiefs have traded two first-rounders for veterans under GM Brett Veach — for Frank Clark (2019) and in the Orlando Brown Jr. package (2021) — but more recently have been on the receiving end of such trades (Hill, Trent McDuffie). Kansas City, which has Travis Kelce on a year-to-year arrangement at this point, will certainly need more help at the position through a longer-term lens soon.
Eagles’ A.J. Brown Talks With Rams Advanced Further Than Negotiations With Patriots
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.
Ravens To Consider Free Agent WR?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently named the Chiefs as a team that could be perusing the free agent wide receiver market. In the same SportsCenter segment (h/t Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report), Fowler said the Ravens are another club that may be in the mix for a veteran pass catcher.
[RELATED: Ravens Seeking C Addition]
Zay Flowers, whose fifth-year option was recently exercised, will once again represent quarterback Lamar Jackson’s top target among Baltimore’s wide receiver contingent. But current WR2 Rashod Bateman followed up his 45/756/9 showing in 2024 with a pedestrian 19/224/2 line, and he was mentioned as a possible trade candidate earlier this year.
Bateman’s disappointing 2025 was in many ways a byproduct of Jackson’s injury-marred year, so it would be fair to expect him to bounce back if Jackson remains healthy in ‘26. Nonetheless, immediately behind Bateman on the depth chart are former fourth-rounder Devontez Walker – who has just seven catches over his two-year NFL career – and rookies Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, who were selected in the third and fourth round, respectively, of April’s draft.
As such, an FA addition would come as no surprise, even though there has not been much chatter connecting Baltimore to the players that are still on the market (a list that includes Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Keenan Allen). Baltimore did homework on some of the top receiver prospects in the draft like Omar Cooper Jr. and Denzel Boston, but the club went in a different direction with its first two picks.
The Ravens were linked to a trade for the Eagles’ A.J. Brown back in March, and while the Patriots have long been seen as the frontrunner to acquire Brown, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe suggests Baltimore is one of the teams that could get back into the mix. Volin also names the Ravens as one of the best fits for Diggs, a Maryland native whose market should start to pick up now that he has been acquitted of assault and strangulation charges.
Baltimore’s offense will once again rely heavily on running back Derrick Henry and Jackson’s dual-threat capabilities. But with over $18MM of available cap space, GM Eric DeCosta has the financial flexibility to add to the club’s WR corps if he believes there is not enough experience and upside behind Flowers at the moment.
Stefon Diggs Interested In Rejoining Pats; Reunion Could Hinge On A.J. Brown Trade
The Patriots released wide receiver Stefon Diggs in early March, but he may not have played his last down in their uniform. Still a free agent two months later, Diggs “would love” to re-sign with the Patriots, per Albert Breer of SI.com
While Breer is also of the belief the Patriots “love” Diggs, he notes a reunion could depend on whether they acquire wideout A.J. Brown from the Eagles. It is widely expected the two teams will swing a trade centering on Brown sometime after June 1, though they have not yet seen eye to eye on compensation.
The Eagles would spread $43.51MM in dead money over two years by moving Brown next month or later, whereas a pre-June 1 trade would force them to eat the entire amount this season. They would also lose over $20MM in cap space for 2026. That explains the delay in this months-long saga.
Brown is one of the greatest receivers in Eagles history, but their offseason moves have seemingly prepared them for life without the three-time Pro Bowler. General manager Howie Roseman moved up three spots in the first round of the draft to select former USC star receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. Roseman also acquired Dontayvion Wicks from the Packers for two late-round picks and then immediately gave him a one-year, $12.5MM extension. The Lemon and Wicks pickups came after the Eagles signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency. Moore is not a lock to make the roster, but Lemon, Wicks, Brown and standout DeVonta Smith are in line for notable roles. The Eagles also have a strong pair of pass-catching tight ends in Dallas Goedert and second-round rookie Eli Stowers.
Smith would take over as the Eagles’ clear-cut No. 1 receiver in the event of a Brown trade. Meanwhile, unless they reel in Brown, the Patriots may go into the season without a bona fide top dog at the position. They brought in one of Wicks’ former teammates, Romeo Doubs, on a four-year, $68MM pact in free agency, though he was more of a No. 2/3 receiver in Green Bay than a primary target. The Patriots also have Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams under contract at the position.
The Pats’ current group of receivers looks adequate, but Diggs handily outproduced all of them last season. Returning from the torn ACL he suffered while with the Texans in October 2024, the four-time Pro Bowler played a 17-game season and was far and away the team leader in catches (85), targets (102) and yards (1,013). He also hauled in four touchdowns from MVP-contending quarterback Drake Maye. Diggs’ post-injury resurgence was key for a club that stunningly jumped from 4-13 to 14-3 in a one-year span. The Patriots won the AFC East, ending the Bills’ five-year run atop the division, and wound up falling to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
A month after their season ended, the Patriots parted with Diggs to save $18.5MM in spending room, though he still counts $9.7MM against their cap. Thanks in part to off-field legal troubles, there has been little to no reported interest in the 32-year-old since he became available.
Diggs entered free agency facing strangulation and assault charges stemming from an alleged incident with his former personal chef. Although a Boston jury acquitted Diggs on May 5, the NFL is continuing to review the matter. Diggs is arguably the best remaining receiver in a class that also includes the likes of Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel and Keenan Allen, but his market may not pick up until teams have an answer on whether the league will discipline him. It would also help Diggs’ cause to have clarity on Brown’s future.
Eagles Obtain No. 20 From Cowboys, Draft WR Makai Lemon
An intra-divisional trade is upon us. The Cowboys have dealt No. 20 to the Eagles. In exchange, Dallas will collect Nos. 23, 114 and 137 from Philadelphia, which is adding a seventh-rounder in this trade (per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).
Dallas’ pick going to Philly is in the 2027 draft. The Eagles chose USC wide receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. Lemon was one of the Eagles’ 15 highest-graded prospects, per The Athletic’s Zach Berman, who reports they did not expect him to slip beyond then. They swooped in before the NFL’s other Pennsylvania-based franchise, the Steelers, could grab him at No. 21. Lemon expected to go to Pittsburgh (via Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press)
“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me and then the Eagles called at the same time,” Lemon said. “I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly.”
The Eagles’ addition of Lemon will throw even more gasoline on the fire in regards to a potential A.J. Brown trade. Along with making a first-round investment in Lemon, the Eagles signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency. They also traded a 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the Packers for Dontayvion Wicks, whom they immediately extended on a one-year, $12.5MM agreement. Moore is not a lock to carve out much of a role or even make the team, but Lemon, A.J. Brown, Wicks, Marquise Brown and DeVonta Smith make up a crowded, high-profile receiver room. There are now a lot of mouths to feed in Philadelphia.
For financial reasons, the Eagles are likely to wait until June 2 to trade A.J. Brown. New England is the probable landing spot, though the teams have not seen eye to eye on compensation yet. For now, general manager Howie Roseman continues to insist the three-time Pro Bowler is part of the Eagles’ plans.
“For us, A.J. is a member of the Eagles,” Roseman said (via Berman). “We don’t have any trades that have been made or that done. And I think for us, you know, we’re taking this one day at a time.”
Of course, it should be noted that the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon and Brown (6-1, 226) are much different players. Lemon lined up in the slot over 75% of the time at USC, whereas Brown operates on the outside.
After a quiet first college season in 2023, quarterback Caleb Williams‘ last with the Trojans, Lemon broke out the next year. Over 12 games as a sophomore, he hauled in 52 passes for 754 yards and three touchdowns. Lemon saved his best for last in 2025, capping off his Trojans tenure with 79 receptions, 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in another dozen-game campaign. The 21-year-old won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the best receiver in the nation. After dropping just four passes at USC, Lemon should give Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts a sure-handed target with star potential.