The most long-awaited deal in NFL history has happened — the Philadelphia Eagles have traded 3-time NFL All-Pro wide receiver and Super Bowl champion A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots.
“Finally! The Eagles have agreed to trade three-time Pro Bowl WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots, who will send a 2028 1st-round pick and 2027 5th-round pick to Philadelphia, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account on Monday afternoon. “After months of speculation, it’s about to be official: A.J. Brown is a Patriot.”
Brown has been 1 of the NFL’s dominant wide receivers throughout his career, and it’s the 2nd time he’s been traded in exchange for a 1st round pick — the Eagles sent a 1st round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Brown before the 2022 season.
“New England was one of AJ Brown’s preferred destinations, in part because of (head coach) Mike Vrabel,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Monday. “Brown played for Vrabel from 2019-2021 with the Titans, and the two have maintained a connection beyond football, according to Vrabel.”
The Eagles were quick to acknowledge Brown’s contribution in his 4 seasons with the franchise, quickly posting to social media after news broke of the trade.
“Thank you for everything, A.J.,” the Eagles wrote on their official X account.
A.J. Brown’s Complicated Legacy With Eagles
While Brown will certainly be remembered for making plays with the Eagles, he’ll likely be more remembered for the discontent he sowed in his own locker room.
“Complicated tenure,” Bleacher Report’s James Palmer wrote on his official X account on Monday. “Very successful as well. In a short period of time, few WRs accomplished more than A.J. Brown in an Eagles jersey.”
In Philadelphia, Brown became known for what seemed like constant complaining about the offense over the last few years — specifically about the abilities (or lack thereof) of quarterback and Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts.
In New England, he’s now paired with arguably the NFL’s best young quarterback in 2024 No. 3 overall pick and 2025 NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye, who led the Patriots on a surprise run to the Super Bowl following the 2025 season.
“A new weapon for Drake Maye in AJ Brown, a bona fide No. 1 receiver who now reunites with Mike Vrabel in New England,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account following the trade.
Eagles Drafted Wide Receiver in 1st Round
The Eagles made an aggressive move to try to negate the talent exodus with Brown to the Patriots by trading up to draft USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in the 1st round (No. 20 overall) of the 2026 NFL draft.
Lemon, 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, has the kind of talent that could make him a star the moment he steps on the field for the Eagles.
He had just 6 receptions for 88 yards and no touchdowns as a freshman at USC in 2023, then started to flash in 2024 with 52 receptions for 764 yards and 3 touchdowns.
In 2025, Lemon finally took the roof off with 79 receptions for 1,156 and 13 total touchdowns — 11 receiving and 2 rushing — in 12 games.
There’s some thought Lemon could step in and be a Top 10 slot receiver in the NFL from Day 1.
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