Reports had said for a few months now that New England and Philadelphia had an agreed-upon deal for the veteran receiver, but we’re waiting until June 1, which would allow the cap implications to be spread over the next two seasons, as opposed to the Eagles taking the full cap hit in 2025. 

Here’s a breakdown of how each team ultimately did in this trade. 

Eagles Grade: B+

• 2028 first-round pick
• 2027 fifth-round pick

Brown had grown increasingly frustrated with his role in the Eagles’ offense, and it was beginning to show both on the field and in the locker room. Philadelphia did its best to manage the situation over the past few seasons, but it reached the point where it felt it was best to begin reshaping its receiving corps. 

The Eagles used a first-round pick on Makai Lemon back in April, acquired Dontayvion Wicks in a trade with Green Bay, and also signed Hollywood Brown as a free agent, so they were clearly prepared to enter training camp with Brown on their roster. 

Even so, it will be difficult to replace Brown’s game-changing impact in their offense. The Eagles were capable of winning games without a large impact from Brown, but when he was at his best, their offense seemed to reach another level. Brown has a unique ability to make tough, contested catches down the field, so that could be an element missing from their offense this season. 

To be clear, getting a package of picks that includes a future first-round pick for a soon-to-be 30-year-old receiver is a great haul. The Eagles gave a little by accepting a 2028 first-round pick over a 2027 first-round pick, which would likely have been preferable, considering next year’s draft class is expected to be one of the best in several years. 

Philadelphia takes on $16,353,496 of dead money in 2025 and picks up $7,040,000 of cap space to work with this season. 

The only reason this falls short of the A range for me is the difficulty of replacing a player of Brown’s caliber in the short term.

Either way, no team is better at making the most of draft capital than the Eagles and VP Howie Roseman, so it will be interesting to see whether they opt to keep the 2028 first-round pick or package it down the road for a roster upgrade. 

Patriots Grade: B

• WR A.J. Brown 

The Patriots were able to reunite Brown and HC Mike Vrabel after the two spent several years together in Tennessee. New England made it to the Super Bowl in their first year under Vrabel, but it’s clear they couldn’t just run it back and expect to get over the proverbial hump after a disappointing showing against the Seahawks. 

The Pats had already brought in Romeo Doubs in free agency, so the addition of Brown really helps to reshape their receiving corps for Drake Maye to take advantage of in the coming years. Doubs is a reliable possession receiver, while Brown gives them a true No. 1 target capable of winning contested catches, creating after the catch, and generating explosive plays.

You can see why they would be willing to make an aggressive move now, given that they’ve already proven they can compete for a title. They’re giving up a decent amount of draft capital for an aging receiver, so that’s always a concern. To their credit, they were able to push the pick out to 2028 and protect their 2027 first-round pick, which is the more appealing draft class. 

The Patriots also have Brown under team control through the 2029 season at an average annual value of $32 million, giving them long-term cost certainty at a premium position.

I think the Patriots are a better offense with Brown in the mix, and that’s ultimately what matters. The price was steep, of course, but if Brown helps elevate Maye’s development and keeps New England in the Super Bowl conversation over the next few years, this will be viewed as a worthwhile gamble.