Analysts break down what Eagles' A.J. Brown will offer Patriots

Much has been said and written over the past handful of months about whether or not the Philadelphia Eagles will trade wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots via a deal that could become official as soon as Tuesday afternoon. 

It was recently learned that at least one assistant general manager and an NFC scout feel that Brown is "a declining asset"/"closer to declining than ascending." For a piece published on Sunday, ESPN's Mike Reiss spoke with former Tennessee Titans general manager and current NFL analyst Ran Carthon about what Brown is and isn't at this stage of the receiver's career. 

Not everybody believes A.J. Brown is a declining asset

"A.J. can still play," Carthon said. "He would give the Patriots a legit, bona fide No. 1 wide receiver and a person in that room who can be a leader. Having the experience of playing under [Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel with the Titans from 2019-2021], he can also be a good purveyor of the message and teaching everyone else in the room what he is looking for."

For what it's worth, Carthon joined the Titans in 2023 when Brown was no longer a Tennessee player. Brown has a concerning history of knee issues, and he will turn 29 years old on June 30. That said, he didn't seem to be past his prime when he recorded 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns over 15 regular-season games while featuring for a 2025 Eagles side that often left much to be desired with its overall offensive performances. 

Brown also has a history of making it known that he is frustrated with his role in an offense. However, NFL Films and ESPN "NFL Matchup" analyst Greg Cosell thinks a happy Brown can still make things difficult for opposing defenses on gamedays. 

"When motivated," Cosell told Reiss, "A.J. Brown is still a higher-level wideout in the league. He's as physical as they come. He can work between the numbers as well as any receiver in the game because of his size, hands, competitiveness and ability to catch through contact. While he is not a burner by any means, he does have a great feel for attacking corners' leverage and blind spots, and therefore, at times, can be a vertical dimension."

Rodney Harrison pushes Patriots to finalize A.J. Brown trade

The Patriots and Eagles reportedly could spend Monday discussing the exact terms of the expected trade. Patriots icon and current "NBC Football Night in America" analyst Rodney Harrison wants his former club to get the deal done sooner rather than later. 

"They need to do it," Harrison said about the reigning AFC champions acquiring Brown. "When you look at the Patriots receivers, they don't have that identity. And the thing I picked up last year, no one was really afraid of them. When you put that 6-2, 225-pound guy out there, it gives the offense a different look and forces defenses to respect that. He would give them a toughness and open up so many things from a strategy standpoint. He still has it. When A.J. is engaged and excited to play and feels like he's a big part of the game plan, there's not many better than him."

Harrison also likes that Brown is "a dawg...with an attitude that is going to affect every single wide receiver there, every player, because he is a tough guy." That tough guy likely will be catching passes thrown by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye this coming summer.