Is this the week A.J. Brown finally gets traded … maybe to the Patriots?
This story originally appeared in the Globe’s Sunday Football Notes. Read the rest here.
The highly anticipated trade between the Eagles and Patriots for A.J. Brown might finally reach its conclusion soon, with the magic June 2 date hitting this Tuesday. Trading the wide receiver after June 1 allows the Eagles to split his dead salary cap money over two years ($16 million this year, $27 million next year) instead of taking all $43 million in 2026.
But just because the Eagles can trade Brown early in the week doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to happen right away. NFL Network reported Thursday that the Eagles and Patriots are “not particularly close,” and it’s easy to see why.
One, by all accounts, the Patriots are the only team involved in the trade talks. Were another team interested in trading for Brown, the Eagles surely would have leaked it by now. The Eagles may want a first-round pick in return, but the Patriots are negotiating against themselves and have the leverage.
That could change if another team gets involved. Several teams need a receiver, including the Chiefs, Ravens, Colts, Rams, Chargers, Falcons, and Seahawks. But considering Brown will be 29, costs $50 million the next two years ($29 million in 2026), has a balky knee, and has caused some locker-room friction in the past, it doesn’t seem as if any other team is going to get into the mix. Free agents Stefon Diggs and Deebo Samuel are available and cheaper, without having to give up a draft pick.
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Two, the deadline for a trade to be executed is really three months from now. The bulk of Brown’s money for this year ($27.45 million) comes in an option bonus that doesn’t have to be triggered until the day before the first game of the regular season. The Eagles don’t have to pay Brown anything until then, so they have until Sept. 12 before needing to move him.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman isn’t going to just give Brown away, and has three months to drum up the best offer.
The Patriots will probably want to execute a deal soon, just so they can get Brown acclimated before training camp. A solution might be offering the Eagles a first-round pick in 2028 or 2029. But there’s no guarantee the trade will happen next week, and it could easily drag out over several weeks or months.
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