Patriots fans get positive update on A.J. Brown trade

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Patriots fans get positive update on A.J. Brown trade

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated May 31, 2026 12:30 PM ET

The New England Patriots moved on from Stefon Diggs early in the offseason.

They signed Romeo Doubs, but they may have bigger plans for their WR1 spot. For months, they've been tied to a trade for Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown, and even though it won't be official until June 1, that move has been the league's worst-kept secret.

There was speculation about potential hurdles that could delay this transaction. However, that may no longer be the case.

Speaking on ESPN's "SportsCenter," NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that while the Patriots are still hesitant to meet the Eagles' steep asking price, they're still expected to get a deal done.

The Patriots are still confident in a trade for A.J. Brown

“I was told the Patriots remain confident that they can get this deal done,” Fowler said. “When I checked with a source on trade terms, I was told the sides are ‘working on it.’ … I’m told (the Patriots) have not been overly crazy about giving up a first-round pick, which is what Philly has kind of wanted all along here, so they’ve gotta find a sweet spot on the trade terms.”

Teams are 30 hours away from being able to utilize post-June-1 cap benefits via trades and cuts.

A.J. Brown, Alvin Kamara and Brandon Aiyuk among players to watch@SportsCenter updates with @garystriewski pic.twitter.com/tYlRZotJKy
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 31, 2026

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has been vocal about his desire to keep Brown in town, but that ship may have sailed.

Also, even if they can hold onto Brown for a little longer, they've created a bit of a logjam at the wide receiver position.

The Eagles traded for Dontayvion Wicks, signed Marquise Brown and drafted Makai Lemon, using every resource available to find a potential replacement for their superstar pass catcher.

They also have a potential WR1 in DeVonta Smith, who has shown flashes of greatness since his days at Alabama but has taken a backseat to Brown in Philadelphia.

Brown wants to be traded, and that will ultimately take a toll on his trade value.

So, as much as the Eagles may want to play hardball, it's hard to envision a scenario where he's not playing for a different team next season, and the Patriots will put in a fight to make sure he arrives in Foxborough.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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