After months of rumors, reports and speculation, the Philadelphia Eagles have officially traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter was the first to break the news.
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The move comes after a particularly dramatic 2025 season. Brown’s relationship with the Eagles seemed to be on the rocks for a while, but this rift grew larger when he struggled to reach his usual level of production this season.
After several impressive seasons on the Tennessee Titans, Brown joined the Eagles back in 2022 and made an immediate impact.
On his way to multiple Pro Bowl selections, Brown recorded the two highest single-season receiving yard totals in franchise history in 2022 and 2023.
The last two seasons have been rocky and uncertain, though. Cryptic social media posts and alleged conversations behind closed doors indicated that he was unhappy with his role on the team.
After a disappointing 2025 season, multiple reports suggested that the Eagles were working with the Patriots on a deal involving Brown.
Both teams held off until Monday, allowing the Eagles to split Brown’s $40 million dead-cap hit between 2026 and 2027. The eligibility period for this was 4 p.m. EST on June 1, so the deal was made official very quickly.
The Patriots will now have Brown under contract through 2029, since he signed a three-year, $96 million extension that doesn’t begin until 2027.
With the Patriots making solid moves in preparation for the trade, Brown now has the opportunity to recreate his past magic on a new team.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
