Trade chatter swirled around A.J. Brown this spring, with ESPN NFL senior insider Adam Schefter reporting in April that a deal between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England was tracking to happen on or after June 1, a date that would allow the Eagles to spread Brown’s $40 million cap charge over two seasons. The Patriots are scheduled for voluntary organized team activities Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and Brown’s presence at those sessions would draw significant attention.
Brown, who turns 29 on June 30, is viewed as a potential answer to the Patriots’ need for a true No. 1 receiver after the team released leading pass catcher Stefon Diggs in March. The Patriots signed Romeo Doubs as part of the replacement plan, but the club remains in search of an established top target for a Mike Vrabel-coached team coming off a surprise trip to the AFC championship.
Former Titans general manager Ran Carthon, now a Sirius XM NFL Radio host, said Brown would provide a “legit, bona fide No. 1 wide receiver and a person in that room who can be a leader,” pointing to Brown’s experience playing under Vrabel with Tennessee from 2019-2021. NFL Films and ESPN “NFL Matchup” analyst Greg Cosell praised Brown’s physicality and ball skills, noting he can work between the numbers, catch through contact and, when motivated, still provide a vertical dimension despite not being a burner.
If New England acquires Brown, the team would become the second in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl and then trade for a player who had 1,000-plus receiving yards the previous season. The only prior example cited was the 2017 Patriots, who traded for Brandin Cooks after winning Super Bowl LI. Brown would join projected roster locks Romeo Doubs (6-2, 210), Mack Hollins (6-4, 221) and Kyle Williams (5-11, 190), with Kayshon Boutte (5-11, 203) reportedly less certain to stay. DeMario Douglas (5-8, 185) and Efton Chism III (5-10, 198) are also among the mix for slot roles.
Voices around the team stressed both the upside and caveats. Patriots Hall of Famer Rodney Harrison said Brown would add toughness and change opponents’ game plans. Carthon cautioned that Brown does not possess the same speed he once had, and any acquiring team would need to assess the condition of his knee and the terms of a contract that extends through 2029.
