April 3, 2026, 6:04 p.m. ET
If the New England Patriots agree to a trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, they are reportedly willing to part with “around second-round draft pick compensation” to make it happen.
The Patriots are believed to be the top landing spot if the Eagles ultimately decide to move on from Brown. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicated that a source with knowledge of the situation claimed that the Eagles had to trade Brown before 2027, or it would “wreak havoc” on their salary cap.
An earlier report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo suggested the Eagles were looking for a first and second-round draft pick for Brown. However, according to the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard, the Patriots aren’t looking to go to those heights to get the 29-year-old wide receiver.
“There’s been a lot of speculation—first and a second, first and a third. The Patriots, my understanding, is around second-round draft pick compensation,” Bedard said on NBC Sports Boston.
A second-round pick makes sense considering Brown turns 29 years old this year, and he’s been dealing with knee issues. If a trade does happen, it could come after June 1, when the Eagles wouldn’t suffer a massive dead cap charge.
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The Patriots added veteran wide receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency, but the former Green Bay Packers standout is viewed as more of a Stefon Diggs replacement. The team still needs a legitimate No. 1 option to attack opposing defenses outside the numbers.
Brown would be the perfect fit for that job.
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