Patriots secure A.J. Brown in trade for 2028 first-round pick

The New England Patriots have acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade that sees New England sending a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Philadelphia. The move reunites Brown with Mike Vrabel, who coached him during his tenure with the Tennessee Titans and now serves as the Patriots’ head coach.

Brown, aged 28, stated that the trade fulfils a lifelong ambition to play for New England, citing his childhood admiration for franchise legends such as Tom Brady and Julian Edelman. He noted that while he had fulfilled his obligations with the Eagles, joining the Patriots represents the culmination of his personal goals.

The acquisition is designed to address a perceived weakness at wide receiver from the 2025 season, aiming to provide quarterback Drake Maye with a primary receiving target. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels compared Brown’s playing style to former tight end Rob Gronkowski, describing him as a "big guy" with a distinct force in how he plays the game.

Vrabel acknowledged the pressure of entering his second year as head coach after the team reached the Super Bowl but fell short last season. He credited Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf for facilitating the trade and emphasised that the focus is on acclimatising Brown to the Patriots’ system rather than investigating the circumstances of his departure from Philadelphia.

Brown and Maye participated in their first practice together on Tuesday, with social media footage showing the pair on the field. The Patriots are scheduled to open their regular season on Wednesday, 9 September, against the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl LX.