The New England Patriots may be able to acquire Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown without surrendering a first-round draft pick, according to multiple NFL analysts. That’s a significant development, cutting against the conventional wisdom heading into this week’s NFL Draft.
Analysts and insiders have zeroed in on second-round compensation as the realistic price for Brown, whose age, injury concerns, and recent performance have quietly eroded his trade value. NBC Sports Boston‘s Phil Perry reported that the Patriots are currently in the range of a second-round pick in trade discussions and argued that a first-round selection would be far too steep.
“There is no shot that the Patriots should be willing to give up their first-rounder next year because you have no idea where that thing’s going to be,” Perry said.
NBC Sports Philadelphia‘s Reuben Frank echoed Perry on Monday, writing that Brown is three years removed from his last elite season and is the only NFL wide receiver to drop three passes in a single playoff game over the past five years. Frank suggested the Eagles would likely accept a package of second- and fourth-round picks in 2027 to move on from Brown. Philadelphia, according to Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane, is “not concerned about adding draft capital for this week’s draft” and finds picks in 2027 and 2028 “even more enticing” than short-term compensation, language that suggests the team will not hold out for a premium return.
Adam Schefter’s A.J. Brown Projection
Not everyone sees it that way. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter pushed back on the second-round framework directly.
“My guess is it’ll involve a future first-round pick,” Schefter said on the McAfee program. “I think the Eagles had been looking for at least a first-round pick for A.J. Brown, and I think they felt like they could get it and still feel like they can get it in the end.”
Schefter also made clear no deal is imminent.
“There is no agreement on the deal right now, but I think both sides expect that eventually, once they talk closer to the deadline, they’ll be able to work out an agreement,” the longtime NFL insider said. “I don’t see another team besides New England where A.J. Brown is going to wind up.”
The disagreement between those two valuations — second-round package versus first-round pick — is the central tension that defines the Patriots-Eagles negotiations between now and June 1.
Why the Patriots Must Wait Until June 1 for A.J. Brown
The timing of the Brown trade talks is driven entirely by salary cap mechanics. Brown signed a three-year, $96 million extension with Philadelphia in 2024, with $80 million guaranteed and a $19.8 million signing bonus, according to NESN.com. Spotrac projects that a post-June 1 trade would cost the Patriots just $7 million against their 2026 cap. Before that date, New England’s exposure tops $43 million — a nonstarter.
Schefter clarified on McAfee that there is no mechanism to designate a trade as a post-June 1 transaction the way teams can with player releases.
“You can’t designate a trade as a June 1 trade. That’s for a player being released,” Schefter said. The deal must physically close on or after that date.
Brown, who turns 29 in June, posted 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns last season. New England already signed wide receiver Romeo Doubs this offseason and holds approximately $35.7 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap. Brown would arrive as the unquestioned No. 1 target for quarterback Drake Maye. Brown, in addition, has already played for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached Brown with the Tennessee Titans from 2019 through 2021. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday that Brown is not expected to participate in the Eagles’ voluntary workouts this week. The wait until June is the only remaining formality.
New England Patriots Get Major A.J. Brown Trade Update as NFL Draft Looms