A.J. Brown is still a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, but everyone knows the team will trade him between now and the start of the regular season. A second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Ole Miss product entered the league with the Tennessee Titans and immediately helped turn the franchise around. Stepping up as the team’s top receiver, Brown finished his rookie season with 52 receptions for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns and played a pivotal role in helping the team make the AFC Championship Game.
This breakout season wasn’t a fluke, as A.J. Brown continued to improve over the next three seasons. Despite the success, the Titans decided to trade him to the Philadelphia Eagles. This change of scenery brought out the best in him, as he recorded 88 receptions for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns during his first season in the City of Brotherly Love. He maintained this elite production in 2023, but the wheels began to fall off the wagon in 2024. While the Eagles won the Super Bowl, Brown saw a relatively reduced role. This usage carried over into 2025, and Brown didn’t hide his frustration with the team. Now, Brown and the Eagles both want a trade, and Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport is one of many saying that the New England Patriots are the best destination.
“The Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl last year, but one of the team’s more glaring weaknesses entering the season is the lack of a true go-to wideout,” Davenport writes. “A healthy A.J. Brown would fill that void, and while a straight-up swap for a first-rounder may be a bit rich for New England’s blood, getting a Day 2 pick back should be enough to get the deal done.”
Patriots, Eagles Connected In Another A.J. Brown Trade Rumor
Following a disappointing 4-13 season, the Patriots made a surprising trip to the Super Bowl thanks to head coach Mike Vrabel and a breakout performance by MVP runner-up Drake Maye. While they ultimately fell short of hoisting the Lombardi, nobody can deny that they’re well ahead of schedule in their rebuild. The last major missing piece on the roster is a game-changing wide receiver.
Kayshon Boutte, Romeo Doubs, and Demario Douglas are all solid players, but they shouldn’t be the focal point of any passing attack. While Stefon Diggs could return to the Patriots following his not guilty verdict, A.J. Brown offers more upside. Additionally, there’s nothing stopping New England from signing Diggs and trading for A.J. Brown, especially if the Eagles end up taking Boutte in a trade.
The Eagles, meanwhile, seem to be doing everything in their power to prepare for life without A.J. Brown. While DeVonta Smith is more than capable of being the top receiver in this passing attack, General Manager Howie Roseman loves to have multiple high-level players at the position. With this in mind, the team used their first-round pick on USC’s Makai Lemon and traded for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. These three should give quarterback Jalen Hurts more than enough targets to keep the offense moving efficiently, especially since the team also possesses an elite offensive line, a solid tight end in Dallas Goedert, and an elite dual-threat running back in Saquon Barkley.
Trade Terms
Coming to terms on an A.J. Brown trade is not easy. On the one hand, Brown used to be one of the best receivers in the game and has multiple 1,400-yard seasons on his resume. On the other hand, he started slowing down over the past two seasons and is entering his age-29 season. He’s much closer to the end of his career than the beginning, so how much would the Patriots be willing to surrender?
Davenport proposes that the Eagles send A.J. Brown and a third-round pick to the Patriots in exchange for a first-round pick. This makes sense, as it averages out to the approximate value of a second-round pick in what is expected to be a loaded 2027 NFL Draft.
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