The New England Patriots have acquired All-Professional vast receiver A.J. Brown in a commerce with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The reigning AFC champions are sending a 2028 first-round decide and a 2027 fifth-round decide to the Eagles to amass Brown, who reunites with head coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel coached Brown for 3 seasons throughout his spell with the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2021 earlier than he was traded to the Eagles in the course of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown makes inevitable Eagles exit
A 3-time second-team All-Professional and three-time Professional Bowler, Brown was instrumental within the Eagles reaching two Tremendous Bowls in his 4 seasons in Philadelphia. Philadelphia misplaced a thriller to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on the finish of Brown’s first season with the Eagles. Nevertheless, the rematch two years later resulted in a blowout win because the Eagles claimed their second Tremendous Bowl title.
Brown recorded four successive 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the Eagles, racking up 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Nevertheless, the 2025 season was one partly outlined by obvious tensions between Brown and head coach Nick Sirianni because the Philadelphia passing assault persistently sputtered.
These tensions appeared to return to a head because the Eagles misplaced within the Wild Card Spherical of the NFC playoffs, their offense pissed off by a undermanned San Francisco 49ers protection in a 23-19 loss.
Brown’s departure since been seen as an inevitability, and the Eagles ready nicely for his exit, drafting Makai Lemon within the first spherical and buying and selling with the Inexperienced Bay Packers for Dontayvion Wicks. The Eagles additionally signed former Chiefs receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown in free company, although DeVonta Smith is now the clear primary receiver in Philadelphia.
Patriots give Maye main increase
New England quarterback Drake Maye is the plain winner of this commerce from a Patriots perspective, as he features a top-tier weapon to assist him construct on an MVP-calibre second season.
Maye led the NFL in completion proportion (72%) final season because the Patriots surged to a 14-3 report in Vrabel’s first 12 months as head coach. The 2024 third total decide threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns with simply eight interceptions within the common season. New England went on to succeed in Tremendous Bowl 60, however noticed their offense throttled by the Seattle Seahawks’ protection in a 29-13 loss.
Brown is the kind of receiver who the Patriots hope will give Maye extra solutions in opposition to defenses like that of Seattle. The 28-year-old is a bodily imposing, ball-dominant goal who can win downfield however doesn’t all the time want the good thing about separation from the protecting defender, together with his abilities on the catch level making him an ultra-reliable weapon.
The Patriots launched prime receiver Stefon Diggs in March after only one season, however with Brown’s addition following the free agent signing of Romeo Doubs, the New England passing sport is in excellent form. Kayshon Boutte is a powerful third choice who will hope to construct on a six-touchdown season that noticed him ship some large playoff moments, whereas DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams are two younger abilities which have additionally offered worth, although their touches might now be extra restricted with the arrival of Brown.
Brown will make his Patriots debut when the Patriots face the Seahawks in a Tremendous Bowl rematch to open the 2026 season in Seattle on September 9.
