The New England Patriots secured a headlining weapon in the passing game on Monday after agreeing to a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that sends star wide receiver A.J. Brown to Foxboro, both teams confirmed.
In return, New England is sending a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Additionally, the Patriots will take on Brown’s remaining four-year, $113 million contract that extends through the 2029 NFL season.
According
to previous reports, the two franchises were waiting until after June 1 to finalize the parameters of the deal, allowing Philadelphia to split Brown’s salary cap charge between this and next year. A trade after the date saves the Eagles roughly $27.2 million in 2026 dead cap, as outlined by Spotrac.
A Super Bowl champion with the Eagles during the 2024 season, Brown concluded 2025 with 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 receptions, which was good for 12.9 yards per reception — his lowest career mark in that category. Brown’s future in Philadelphia had occasionally been the subject of speculation over the last season amid questions about potential frustration in the state of the team’s offense.
Despite the statistical regression from previous seasons, he has posted 8,029 receiving yards and 56 touchdowns across seven seasons and is a three-time Pro Bowler.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old was selected by the Tennessee Titans — who were led by Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at the time — in the second round of the 2019 draft. He was later dealt to the Eagles during the 2022 draft, a move that famously prompted Vrabel to stand up from his seat in the Titans’ draft room, showing visible frustration.
Now, the pair reunites on the Patriots, where Brown adds both premium talent and a veteran presence to New England’s receiver corps that is without Stefon Diggs, who was released in March. During the Eagles’ early offensive struggles last season, his former teammate in Philadelphia, Devonta Smith, described Brown as a “great leader” who “wants what’s best for the team,” after the three-year captain mentioned frustrations following a Week Four victory.
Correspondingly, New England has placed newly signed tight end Julian Hill on injured reserve to create the roster space to invite Brown onto the roster.
After the Patriots chose not to draft a wide receiver this offseason, Brown and free agency signing Romeo Doubs are the two notable additions to the position. The duo will join a group featuring Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism III, Jeremiah Webb, and undrafted rookies Cameron Dorner, Kyle Dixon, Jimmy Kibble and Nick DeGennaro.
