Insider says Eagles may not be ready to trade A.J. Brown to Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is one of the most significant names on the NFL trade block this offseason, and the New England Patriots are often linked to him.

Many thought a deal would have come down by now, but it hasn't, and now, eyes are on June 1, since trading Brown after that date is a way for the Eagles to split his dead cap and save the team precious funds in cap relief.

But, one NFL insider says it's not a sure thing, yet, that Brown will be traded to the Patriots. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that he doesn't get the sense that these teams will be ready to trade when June 1 rolls around.

NFL insider says there's no 'secret deal' to trade A.J. Brown

"Once you get past June 1, the window is basically open for whenever these two sides can get to a deal," Rapoport said Friday on the NFL Network. "I don't get the sense there's a secret deal where they hit the button and say 'OK, go.'"

He added: "They're going to have to negotiate, figure out a middle ground, to get A.J. Brown from the Eagles to the New England Patriots. Until then, as (Philadelphia general manager) Howie Roseman likes to say, he's still a member of the Eagles."

If you're a Patriots fan not happy to hear this, don't be too worried, because Rapoport also reiterated that the Patriots remain favorites to land Brown.

"It seems right now we're still in a little bit of a waiting period with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, and of course, it should be reiterated that the Patriots seem like the most likely destination for A.J. Brown," Rapoport said on the show. "They have (Patriots head coach) Mike Vrabel, they have a team that certainly has had plenty of talk with the Eagles over A.J. Brown."

So, if a deal isn't in place, it will take time, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. Brown and Vrabel have worked together before, and there's no question that Brown would help the Patriots offense and be an explosive tool for Drake Maye.