Veteran wide receiver A.J. Brown getting traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots at some point this offseason can feel like the worst-kept secret in the NFL right now. Before such a move actually happens, however, the two teams still need to work out the details.
That process is still very much ongoing with a pivotal deadline nearing: once the calendar flips from May to June, Brown’s contract becomes more tradable for the Eagles. While that might mean we could see some action
as soon as next week, there still seems to be a lot of space between the two organizations.
In fact, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Patriots and Eagles are “not particularly close” at the moment.
“I just don’t know that it’s like snap your fingers and the deal is done,” Rapoport said on Wednesday. “The two sides are where they had been, which is the Eagles wanting a first-round pick in 2027. The Patriots, the most likely destination — we’ll see if someone else arises — not being willing to give up a first-round pick as of right now. That means they’re not particularly close, and there’s a chance this could drag on for the foreseeable future.”
The Eagles wanting a 2027 first-round draft pick for Brown is nothing new, and neither is the Patriots’ reluctance to part with such a premium commodity in what is considered a deep upcoming draft. As a consequence, there has been speculation about a 2028 first-rounder being a potential middle ground.
Rapoport’s report, meanwhile, makes it sound like such a middle ground has not yet been found or agreed upon.
How quickly that apparent impasse can be resolved remains to be seen. Speaking to reporters ahead of Wednesday’s first open organized team activity, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel refrained from giving any insight into the topic.
“We want to continue to improve the roster at every opportunity we get,” Vrabel said. “When those opportunities arise, I don’t know.”
