NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated and former New England Patriots defensive back Jason McCourty are among those who have said that the Patriots acquiring Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is “almost a done deal.”
On Wednesday, Breer addressed what the Patriots will have to give up for Brown via the transaction that can’t become official before June 1 due to reasons related to the salary cap.
A team “other than the Patriots” discussed sending this to the Eagles for A.J. Brown
“I still believe the throughway to satisfying the Eagles’ desire for a first-round pick is pushing that return into 2028,” Breer wrote. “Philadelphia (general manager) Howie Roseman has been amenable to such compromises in the past — he took a 2026 third-rounder for Haason Reddick in March 2024 — because he has the job security to do so. Also, such a compromise was already discussed between the Eagles and a team other than the Patriots a couple of months ago, at which point Philly would’ve been accepting a pick three drafts away.”
Weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft got underway, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead confirmed that he “chatted with Philly” about a possible trade for Brown. However, the Rams ultimately “tapped out of the talks” with the Eagles about a move for the 28-year-old who reportedly wants to once again play for New England head coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel previously coached Brown when the two were with the Tennessee Titans from 2019 through the 2021 season.
How Howie Roseman set the trade price for A.J. Brown
“The 2028 first-rounder is now two drafts away, which creates a parallel to what the Jets received for Quinnen Williams — the Cowboys centered their package for Williams, in fall 2025, around a 2027 first-round pick—that Roseman was using as a trade comp in the first place. Anyway, Roseman has been smart and patient, allowing time to smoke out any suitors over the past couple of months in case unforeseen circumstances arise elsewhere.”
Breer’s latest update indicates that the Eagles, Brown and the Patriots will all get what they want regarding a trade. That said, the so-called winner of the deal among the teams likely won’t be determined until years after Roseman spends the draft picks he receives in return for Brown.