Patriots Bet A.J. Brown Trade Solves Major Problem
The New England Patriots picked up star WR A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in a blockbuster trade on June 1, sending the Eagles a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick in return. The team has confirmed the trade.
It's the second blockbuster trade of the day, with the other big one seeing the Cleveland Browns send NFL Defensive Player of the Year DE Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for OLB Jared Verse and a package of draft picks.
Related: Rams, Browns Garrett Trade a Win-Win Deal
The Rams improved their Super Bowl chances with the acquisition of Garrett, and now the Patriots have improved theirs by getting Brown from the Eagles.
A.J. Brown Gives Pats Deep Threat They Were Missing
The 28-year-old Brown is still a top wide receiver, and he gives Patriots QB Drake Maye a dynamic touchdown threat as the Patriots look to get back to the Super Bowl for the second season in a row.
The Pats made it all the way to The Big Game this year, but they lost to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13. Although the final score might not show it, the game was essentially a blowout, as the Patriots had problems scoring until very late in the game.
The hope is that by getting Brown, Maye will now have a true deep threat to throw his long bombs to. After all, Brown has 56 career touchdowns, and he is a three-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler for both the Eagles and the Tennessee Titans during his seven-year NFL career.
New England lost Stefon Diggs this offseason, but they have essentially replaced him with Brown, which is a net positive. The Patriots also added Romeo Doubs as a free agent this offseason, and they have DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kayshon Boutte all returning too.
Overall, it was already a very strong WR core in New England, but Brown's addition makes it even far more dangerous than it was yesterday.
Plus, Brown has valuable playoff experience, including winning the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2025. He has been there and done that, and he's the perfect fit for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Maye as they look to make another deep run in the AFC this season.
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Philadelphia Eagles Needed to Move On
For the Eagles, this is a trade they had to make, as Brown didn't want to be there anymore, and the team needed to create future financial flexibility. So, on that front, it's a win for the Eagles, even though they are losing a great player in Brown.
The good news for the Eagles is that they are getting a pair of draft picks, including a 2028 first-round pick that could potentially land them a good prospect.
It does hurt for the Eagles that they didn't get a roster player in return or a pick earlier than two years from now. But Eagles GM Howie Roseman did well to get two picks back for a player who no longer wanted to be on the team.
The Eagles are still one of the top teams in the NFC and a real threat to win the NFC East next season. They have been one of the best teams in the league for several years now, and won the Super Bowl just last year. Brown was a big part of that team, but now that he's moved on, the Eagles will have to move forward without him.
It won't be easy for the Eagles to replace Brown's production, but the team will hope its other wide receivers, including DeVonta Smith, all step up in his absence. Plus, they got two lottery tickets with the draft picks they pucked up in this trade.
While the Eagles may be a worse team today after trading Brown away, eventually, the team might be better off with him out of the building, and they could eventually be the winners of this deal if things pan out for them with the two picks they got in the deal.
Related: Eagles A.J. Brown Traded to Patriots: What This Means for Fantasy Football and Both Teams
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 7:10 PM.