A.J. Brown’s trade saga just got a dose of reality.
The standoff involving the Philadelphia Eagles star receiver appears to be tightening. In a blunt update Sunday night, a prominent NFL insider indicated that three teams previously connected to Brown have stepped away from negotiations, potentially leaving the New England Patriots as the only realistic landing spot. After the Patriots missed out on another potential target in Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce, the big question now is whether New England is willing to meet Philadelphia’s expected asking price for Brown.
According to insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the talks for Brown have reached a “standstill.”
The biggest obstacle may be the price, and the Patriots’ willingness to meet it. According to Breer’s report, Philadelphia’s expectations appear closer to blockbuster wide-receiver deals like the Davante Adams trade than to more modest recent swaps around the league. That gap has made teams hesitant to move forward, leaving the Patriots in a position where they could either step up with a compelling offer—or watch the situation stall entirely if the Eagles hold firm on their demands.
Which Other Teams Were Trying to Trade For Brown?
Brown already has a well-documented connection with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel from their time together with the Tennessee Titans, a relationship that has fueled speculation that New England would be a prime landing spot if the Philadelphia Eagles ultimately decide to move the Pro Bowl receiver.
Breer reported that the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs were also on Brown’s “wish list.” But Buffalo traded last week for former Chicago Bears WR D.J. Moore, and Buffalo is “no longer involved,” the veteran insider wrote.
“I don’t think the Chargers are either, with their focus on the offensive line and the edge positions. And ditto on the Chiefs, who are zeroed in on the running back spot, and have a desire to replenish the roster with the picks they got in the (Trent) McDuffie trade,” Breer wrote.
That leaves Brown in a Patriots-or-bust position. But how badly do the Patriots want Brown?
Why Are the Patriots Closely Linked to a Brown Trade?
The Patriots have been linked to Brown largely because in 2025 they lacked a legitimate deep threat wide receiver to pair with second-year quarterback and NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye, who led the NFL in explosive play effectiveness and completed an insane 52.1 percent of his deep attempts, adding +1.31 expected points per drop-back on throws over 20 air yards, according to longtime Patriots analyst Evan Lazar of Patriots.com.
New England’s most productive receiver last season was veteran Stefon Diggs, who in his first year with the Patriots caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards, becoming the first Patriots pass-catcher to top the 1,000-yard mark since Julian Edelman in 2019.
But Diggs’ first year in New England was also his last. The Patriots have reportedly informed him that he will be released this week, largely due to salary cap issues.
But Diggs was primarily an over-the-middle receiver, not the deep threat that the Patriots are looking for in order to maximize Maye’s potential to break games open with explosive passing plays.
Patriots Just Got Brutal A.J. Brown Trade Reality — NFL Insider