Eagles News: Patriots, Ravens the Front-Runners
The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens have emerged as the most likely trade partners for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, with the Eagles willing to deal him only to AFC teams, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Buffalo Bills also made preliminary contact with Philadelphia about Brown, but their agreement to acquire DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears has effectively removed them from consideration.
Brown, 28, is coming off his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season, finishing 2025 with 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on a team-high 121 targets in 15 games. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in six of his seven NFL seasons and is a three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl LIX champion. Despite those credentials, Brown was publicly vocal about his frustrations with his role in Philadelphia’s offense throughout the 2025 campaign, creating an offseason dynamic that has Howie Roseman at minimum listening to trade offers.
Roseman has been consistent in his public messaging, saying that the Eagles are “in the business of keeping great players” and that Brown qualifies. But the general manager has not shut the door, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Philadelphia’s asking price mirrors the compensation the Cowboys gave for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, a package that included a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a player.
The Patriots’ interest has been openly telegraphed by head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached Brown for the first three seasons of his career in Tennessee and spoke at length about their relationship at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. New England’s pursuit took on added urgency Thursday when the team released wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who led the Patriots with 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. The move clears both cap space and roster necessity, making a run at Brown appear more deliberate than coincidental.
The Ravens present a different kind of appeal. Baltimore has Zay Flowers as an established playmaker, but the team lost ground at receiver during the 2025 season and enters the offseason with clear needs at the position. Brown and Flowers would give Lamar Jackson a physically complementary receiving duo — one a big-bodied outside threat, the other a shifty slot option. The Ravens hold the 14th overall pick in the 2026 draft, giving them real trade capital to work with.
Whether either team will ultimately meet Philadelphia’s asking price remains the central question. A deal is expected to be resolved in the coming days, ahead of the official start of the league year next week.