Eagles trade A.J. Brown to Patriots for draft capital
The deal reunites Brown with former Titans coach Mike Vrabel and sends the 2028 first-round pick to Philadelphia as the Eagles reshape their offensive roster.
The Philadelphia Eagles have traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, acquiring a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection in return. The transaction, confirmed on Monday, 1 June 2026, concludes a protracted offseason saga and reunites Brown with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who previously coached him during his tenure with the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2021.
Brown’s departure follows a 2025 season that marked a statistical decline for the veteran receiver. He recorded a career-low 12.9 yards per reception and failed to record a single reception in a half on seven occasions. His 1,003 receiving yards were the lowest of his Eagles tenure, and 2025 marked the first season in which he was not Philadelphia’s leading receiver.
The Eagles’ offense ranked as the worst of the Nick Sirianni era in 2025, averaging 22.3 points per game. Brown publicly criticised the team’s offensive performance in November 2025, stating that the unit was not doing its job and that the team could not rely solely on defensive performance to secure victories.
Philadelphia executed the trade after the NFL’s June 1 deadline to avoid a significant dead cap hit. Had the trade occurred earlier, the Eagles would have faced a $49 million dead cap hit and a loss of $25.6 million in savings. By finalising the deal post-deadline, the Eagles can split the financial impact over the 2026 and 2027 seasons, saving $1.5 million immediately.
The Patriots, who released top target Stefon Diggs earlier this offseason, acquire Brown as their new number one receiver. He is signed through 2029, with a fully guaranteed $29 million scheduled for 2026. The move pairs Brown with quarterback Drake Maye, who led the NFL in completion percentage and yards per attempt in 2025, including a league-best 58% completion rate on throws of 15 or more air yards.
In Philadelphia, the Eagles have moved to replace Brown’s production by acquiring Dontayvion Wicks from Green Bay, signing Marquise "Hollywood" Brown from Kansas City, and drafting Eli Stowers and Makai Lemon. DeVonta Smith is expected to become the new number one option, supported by the additions of the rookie tight end and the slot specialist Lemon.
