Eagles trade star WR A.J. Brown to Patriots for two picks

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed on Monday to trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a first-round draft pick in 2028 and a fifth-round pick in 2027. The fifth-round selection will be the better of New England's two picks in that round of next year's draft, as reported by ESPN.

This trade, which has been anticipated across the NFL for months, reunites Brown with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. In a statement shared on Instagram, Brown expressed gratitude towards the Eagles and their fans, stating, "Playing for this city has been an honor, and I'm thankful for every moment I had in midnight green. Thank you, Philly. Much love always. God bless."

At 28 years old, Brown is set to provide quarterback Drake Maye with a primary target, complementing free agent signing Romeo Doubs in the Patriots' revamped receiver lineup. The Eagles had been preparing for Brown's exit by trading up in the first round of the current year's draft to select USC receiver Makai Lemon. They also acquired Green Bay Packers receiver Dontayvion Wicks and signed free agents Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore.

By executing the trade on June 1, the Eagles will split Brown's $40 million salary cap charge between the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

In terms of his performance, A.J. Brown has made a historic impact since entering the league. He is one of only seven players in NFL history to surpass 8,500 receiving yards and achieve 60 touchdown catches within his first seven seasons. In the last four seasons, Brown and Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase are the only players to record at least 1,000 receiving yards and seven-plus touchdowns each season.

Brown established records in Philadelphia, holding the top two single-season receiving yard totals in the franchise's history: 1,496 yards in 2022 and 1,456 yards in 2023. Despite the team's success, Brown had shown increasing frustration with the Eagles' offensive scheme over the last two seasons, which became evident through indirect comments and social media posts.

The Patriots will now take over Brown's contract, running through the 2029 season with an average value of $32 million annually—ranking seventh among NFL receivers. New England was a favored destination for Brown, partly due to his prior connection with Vrabel, who coached him from 2019 to 2021 with the Tennessee Titans.

This addition reflects the Patriots' commitment to revamping their receiving corps after their loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Following the release of leading receiver Stefon Diggs in March, who had 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in 2025, the addition of Brown indicates an aggressive reformation of the team's offense.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 226 pounds, Brown represents a different style compared to Diggs, offering a perimeter-targeting option, while Doubs is regarded as a versatile receiver. Along with Brown and Doubs, the receiving core includes veterans Mack Hollins, and fourth-year players Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas among others.