The A.J. Brown trade finally ends months of Philadelphia speculation and hands Drake Maye a true No. 1. The Eagles sent the three-time Pro Bowl wideout to the Patriots for New England’s 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, pending a physical.
NFL.com reported the deal June 1. Waiting until after June 1 lets Philadelphia split Brown’s roughly $43.45 million dead-money hit across 2026 and 2027 instead of absorbing it in one season. The A.J. Brown trade also reunites Brown with Mike Vrabel, his coach for three seasons in Tennessee.
What the A.J. Brown trade changes in New England
Brown posted 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 catches last season — a career-low 12.9 yards per catch after a year of public frustration with his role. Paired with Romeo Doubs, he gives Maye a bigger, contested-catch target the Patriots lacked after leaning on Stefon Diggs.
Philadelphia already stacked DeVonta Smith, Marquise Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, and first-round pick Makai Lemon. The Axo read: the A.J. Brown trade was telegraphed by Philly’s draft capital spend at receiver, not a panic dump.
Cap math behind the A.J. Brown trade
Howie Roseman avoided a single-year $43.45 million hit by waiting for June. For more NFL moves, see Axo’s Sports hub.