Eagles News: Patriots “Not Particularly Close” on A.J. Brown Trade Despite June 1 Window Opening
The A.J. Brown trade saga is not ending quietly. Despite widespread expectation that a deal between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots would fall into place once the calendar hit June 1, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport threw cold water on that timeline Wednesday, reporting that the two sides are “not particularly close” on compensation.
“I just don’t know that it’s going to be like snap your fingers and the deal is done,” Rapoport said on NFL Network. “The two sides are where they have been — which is the Eagles wanting a first-round pick in 2027. The Patriots, being the most likely destination, are not 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.”
June 1 matters because of the cap math. Trading Brown before that date would saddle Philadelphia with a dead cap hit of more than $40 million. After June 1, that number drops to just over $16 million, a far more palatable figure for an Eagles team still pushing to build around Jalen Hurts. The front office has been maneuvering toward this moment all offseason, acquiring receiver Dontayvion Wicks from Green Bay and using the 20th overall pick in the 2026 draft on USC’s Makai Lemon. Every move has pointed toward Brown being moved.
The Patriots, meanwhile, have made their interest equally clear. New England signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year deal in free agency after releasing Stefon Diggs, but they remain in the market for a true No. 1 receiver to pair with quarterback Drake Maye. Brown’s relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him during his three seasons in Tennessee, has been widely cited as a driving factor in New England’s pursuit.
The sticking point is the price. The Eagles have held firm on wanting a 2027 first-round pick. The Patriots have resisted. There is speculation that a 2028 first-rounder could serve as a middle ground, though nothing has been confirmed. Separately, The Athletic reported that the Eagles also had serious conversations with the Los Angeles Rams about a potential deal, suggesting Philadelphia is not limiting its options while talks with New England remain unresolved.
Brown turns 29 in late June and is entering what is expected to be his final season in Philadelphia. In 2025, his fourth year with the Eagles, he caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games, his sixth 1,000-yard season in seven NFL campaigns. His 12.9 yards per reception, however, was a career low, and he drew public scrutiny for drops in the Eagles’ wild-card loss to San Francisco. A heated sideline exchange with head coach Nick Sirianni during that game and a subsequent refusal to speak with the media postgame underlined how far the relationship between Brown and the organization had deteriorated.
Rapoport indicated Wednesday that neither side had spoken directly with the other in some time. The trade may still happen. But it is not happening on anyone’s schedule.