Overview
- The Eagles completed the trade on June 1, sending A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first‑round pick and a 2027 fifth‑round pick.
- The teams timed the deal around the NFL’s June 1 accounting window to push roughly $27 million of Brown’s dead‑cap into 2027, reducing Philadelphia’s immediate 2026 payroll burden.
- After the trade Brown returned to the Eagles facility to collect belongings and, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, wrote “The best to ever play here. Always open” on his Pro Bowl photo, a message that has dominated recent coverage.
- Brown has begun practicing with New England, reuniting with coach Mike Vrabel and being positioned as the Patriots’ clear No. 1 target for quarterback Drake Maye, with coaches praising his physical style.
- Nick Sirianni praised Brown’s years in Philadelphia and wished him well, while analysts and insiders remain split on whether the Patriots overpaid given Brown’s production, age and knee concerns and some insiders have pushed back on reports of deliberate sabotage of Eagles teammates.