The Eagles sent A.J. Brown to the Patriots on Monday, receiving a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in return. The deal marks the second time Brown has been traded in his career, with the first move coming in 2022 when the Titans dealt him to Philadelphia.
Brown, who turns 29 later this month, leaves Philadelphia after helping the franchise capture two NFC titles and its second Super Bowl win in 2024. The Patriots are coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks and will now count on the three-time Pro Bowler to augment an offense led by quarterback Drake Maye.
The record does not need much decoration; it already does the talking.
The Return
Philadelphia securing a 2028 first-round pick is notably far in the future for a player of Brown's stature. Most trades of this magnitude yield a pick in the upcoming draft, not two years out. The Eagles also received a 2027 fifth-round selection as part of the package.
General manager Howie Roseman, who pulled off the deal, had already begun restocking the receiving corps this offseason. The Eagles added Makai Lemon, former Packer Dontayvion Wicks, and former Raven/Chief Marquise Brown while selecting tight end Eli Stowers in the second round of the draft.
The Fit
New England needed an upgrade at receiver and gets one in Brown, who developed a strong rapport with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia and earned Super Bowl MVP honors alongside him. The Patriots are betting on similar chemistry with Maye, who solidified his status as New England's franchise quarterback last season.
The risk, of course, is Brown's history of emotional detachment from teams. He drifted from the Titans in 2022 and did so again with the Eagles last season, where his cryptic behavior cast a cloud over the defending champions for much of the year. This is now the third team in four years for Brown.