{"id":868170,"date":"2026-04-17T06:21:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T06:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868170\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T06:21:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T06:21:47","slug":"ian-rapoport-patriots-trading-for-a-j-brown-most-likely-scenario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868170\/","title":{"rendered":"Ian Rapoport: Patriots trading for A.J. Brown \u2018most likely scenario\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew England Patriots\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t“Most people believe that there\u2019s an eventual trade to the Patriots.”<\/p>\n

\"Philadelphia
\n\tA.J. Brown continues to be linked to the Patriots in trade rumors. (AP Photo\/Terrance Williams)\t<\/p>\n

The Patriots might be setting their sights on next week\u2019s NFL Draft, but the rumors surrounding New England and Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown aren\u2019t quieting down at this juncture of the NFL offseason.<\/p>\n

Appearing on FS1\u2019s \u201cThe Herd\u201d on Thursday, NFL Network\u2019s Ian Rapoport said that it feels like a given that Brown will eventually be traded to the Patriots in the coming months.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, Post-June 1 is a very big date in the A.J. Brown sweepstakes, if that\u2019s what you want to call it,\u201d Rapoport said. \u201cMost people believe that there\u2019s an eventual trade to the Patriots. It has not been done yet; I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s been done yet. And I don\u2019t know for sure for sure that\u2019s going to happen, because life is weird and that\u2019s two months from now.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s probably the most likely scenario, and I think if that\u2019s the case that probably makes sense for both sides \u2014 if they can agree on a price.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Post-June 1 is a very big date in the A.J. Brown sweepstakes\u2026Most people believe that there’s an eventual trade to the Patriots\u2026that’s probably the most likely scenario.” \u2013 Ian Rapoport pic.twitter.com\/GnNlWS5M2i<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

June 1 has been a date tossed around for months now when it comes to the Patriots\u2019 potential pursuit of Brown, as noted by ESPN\u2019s Mike Reiss<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the Eagles traded the receiver before June 1, they would absorb $43.5 million in dead money on their salary cap ($20.1 million more than his current cap charge),\u201d Reiss wrote. \u201cIf they traded Brown after June 1, the dead money on their salary cap would be $16.353 million.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat simple math highlights why any deal for Brown, with the Patriots a top suitor, wouldn\u2019t be finalized until June 1.\u201d\u200b<\/p>\n

Given that the Eagles \u2014 still fixed in a win-now contention window \u2014 don\u2019t want to operate with such a sizable dead-cap hit on their books in 2026, it makes sense that any potential deal between the Patriots and Eagles won\u2019t be struck until after June 1.<\/p>\n

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports,<\/a> \u00a0Brown \u2014 who played for Mike Vrabel in Tennessee \u2014 has an understanding that the Eagles will trade him later on this offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cEagles GM Howie Roseman continues to say Brown is a member of the Eagles, and that is an unassailable fact,\u201d Jones wrote. \u201cBut what sources have pointed out to me is that Brown has done nothing publicly to try to punch his way out of Philly, and those sources have theorized that Brown may have an understanding that a deal will take place at some point in the summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking a public stink does not help his position, especially when he could be on another team by OTAs and minicamp in June anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown \u2014 who has recorded 339 receptions for 5,034 receiving yards and 32 receiving touchdowns since joining the Eagles via trade in 2022 \u2014 would be an immediate upgrade on New England\u2019s depth chart as a proven WR1 for Drake Maye.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.<\/p>\n

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