The New England Patriots have acquired All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The reigning AFC champions are sending a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Eagles to acquire Brown, who reunites with head coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel coached Brown for three seasons during his spell with the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2021 before he was traded to the Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft.
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Brown makes inevitable Eagles exit
A three-time second-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, Brown was instrumental in the Eagles reaching two Super Bowls in his four seasons in Philadelphia. Philadelphia lost a thriller to the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of Brown’s first season with the Eagles. However, the rematch two years later resulted in a blowout win as the Eagles claimed their second Super Bowl title.
Brown recorded four successive 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the Eagles, racking up 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns.
However, the 2025 season was one in part defined by apparent tensions between Brown and head coach Nick Sirianni as the Philadelphia passing attack consistently sputtered.
Those tensions appeared to come to a head as the Eagles lost in the Wild Card Round of the NFC playoffs, their offense frustrated by a undermanned San Francisco 49ers defense in a 23-19 loss.
Brown’s departure since been seen as an inevitability, and the Eagles prepared well for his exit, drafting Makai Lemon in the first round and trading with the Green Bay Packers for Dontayvion Wicks. The Eagles also signed former Chiefs receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown in free agency, though DeVonta Smith is now the clear number one receiver in Philadelphia.
Patriots give Maye major boost
New England quarterback Drake Maye is the obvious winner of this trade from a Patriots perspective, as he gains a top-tier weapon to help him build on an MVP-calibre second season.
Maye led the NFL in completion percentage (72%) last season as the Patriots surged to a 14-3 record in Vrabel’s first year as head coach. The 2024 third overall pick threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns with just eight interceptions in the regular season. New England went on to reach Super Bowl 60, but saw their offense throttled by the Seattle Seahawks’ defense in a 29-13 loss.
Brown is the type of receiver who the Patriots hope will give Maye more answers against defenses like that of Seattle. The 28-year-old is a physically imposing, ball-dominant target who can win downfield but does not always need the benefit of separation from the covering defender, with his skills at the catch point making him an ultra-reliable weapon.
The Patriots released top receiver Stefon Diggs in March after just one season, but with Brown’s addition following the free agent signing of Romeo Doubs, the New England passing game is in very good shape. Kayshon Boutte is a strong third option who will hope to build on a six-touchdown season that saw him deliver some huge playoff moments, while DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams are two young talents that have also provided value, though their touches may now be more limited with the arrival of Brown.
Brown will make his Patriots debut when the Patriots face the Seahawks in a Super Bowl rematch to open the 2026 season in Seattle on September 9.
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