How An A.J. Brown Trade Would Impact 2026 NFL Mock Draft

A.J. Brown will be the most talented wide receiver available during the 2026 NFL draft, including incoming prospects.

Brown's general discontent became public during the 2025 season and got the rumor mill churning about a potential trade.

The Philadelphia Eagles brass hasn't helped matters since the team's decision-makers remain non-committal whether the veteran wide receiver will be with the team by the time the 2026 campaign begins.

"We kept saying A.J.'s an Eagle," owner Jeffrey Lurie told reporters last week. "...I will just say this: DeVonta [Smith] and A.J., two great receivers and also great teammates. I just want to say that. These two are wonderful to have and great teammates and great receivers. So he's an Eagle. We'll see what happens down the road."

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

An expectation remains that Brown will be dealt, although his contract needs to be discussed before diving into any projections.

Brown's deal is difficult for the Eagles to move prior to June 1. After that point, Philadelphia can get over $7 million in cap relief, according to Over the Cap. Before then, a massive $20.1 million dead-cap hit is incurred.

In order for a suitor to entice the Eagles to make a move sooner rather than later, the return in a potential trade must be significant, which will almost certainly include a first-round pick this year.

The belief around the league is the New England Patriots will eventually deal for Brown, so Drake Maye can have a legitimate No. 1 target in their offense.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the B/R Scouting Department's most recent projection and how such a move could shake up the back end of this year's first round.

Mock Draft

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

2. New York Jets: Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State

3. Arizona Cardinals: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

4. Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

5. New York Giants: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

6. Cleveland Browns: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

7. Washington Commanders: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

8. New Orleans Saints: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

9. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

10. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

11. Miami Dolphins: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

12. Dallas Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

14. Baltimore Ravens: IOL Vega Ioane, Penn State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DL Keldric Faulk, Auburn

16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis): WR Makai Lemon, USC

17. Detroit Lions: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

18. Minnesota Vikings: OL Spencer Fano, Utah

19. Carolina Panthers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay): S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB CJ Allen, Georgia

22. Los Angeles Chargers: IOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville): OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

25. Chicago Bears: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

26. Arizona Cardinals (projected trade via Buffalo): QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

27. San Francisco 49ers: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

28. Houston Texans: DL Peter Woods, Clemson

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LA Rams): Edge T.J. Parker Clemson

30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver): CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

31. Philadelphia Eagles (projected trade via New England): OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

How Trade Impacts Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have a significant decision to make, because the team will lose leverage in a Brown trade by waiting until the June 1 deadline.

At $35.4 million in available salary-cap space, Philadelphia has the flexibility to take on the dead cap hit now in order to maximize its return.

Once suitors know the Eagles won't have to eat a significant portion of Brown's deal and the draft is in the rearview mirror, potential offers will decrease.

Essentially, Philadelphia must choose between building up its roster now and taking a cap hit elsewhere, or waiting and getting no immediate-impact return.

In the above scenario, the Eagles obtain the Patriots' first-round selection for Brown's services. It's quite possible a little more could be added to complete the transaction. For our purposes, the first-round pick is the primary piece.

Earlier in the frame, Philadelphia addressed the defensive side of the ball with UCF's Malachi Lawrence, whose athletic profile screams top-notch NFL edge-rusher. The incoming prospect is eerily similar to Danielle Hunter and Odafe Oweh when looking at their physical prowess. Lawrence was more productive in college, though.

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

General manager Howie Roseman loves to build a defensive line that attacks opposing quarterbacks in waves. Lawrence wouldn't need to be a starter from Day 1, but he can certainly help provide a disruptive pass rush with more juice.

Armed with a second first-round selection, Roseman can flip to the other side of the ball, where the Eagles have to worry about the long-term status of their right tackle spot, even though Lane Johnson is returning for another year. The selection of Arizona State's Max Iheanachor isn't just about the future, though.

Johnson, 35, missed two or more games in six of the last seven seasons. He didn't play in seven last year due to a Lisfranc injury. Furthermore, left guard Landon Dickerson has dealt with a series of injuries throughout his football career.

Iheanachor landing with the Eagles is a best-case scenario where he likely wouldn't be thrown into the starting lineup, yet Philadelphia can benefit from drafting a high-upside player, who has tremendous movement skills, while likely getting him onto the field at some point in 2026.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The team can then address wide receiver on Day 2 since multiple big-bodied options should be available to help fill the void left by Brown, as DeVonta Smith officially becomes entrenched as the squad's WR1.

How Trade Impacts New England Patriots

The Patriots weren't able to make a serious run at free agent Alec Pierce because the market's top available wide receiver agreed to a contract extension with the Indianapolis Colts shortly after the new league year began.

As such, New England pivoted to Romeo Doubs, who signed a four-year, $68 million contract. The difference lies in expectations.

Pierce was viewed as a target ready to take the next step and become a legitimate WR1. Thus, the Colts didn't allow him to leave and moved on from their previous top option in Michael Pittman Jr. Doubs isn't viewed in the same manner.

Furthermore, the Patriots also released last year's leading receiver, Stefon Diggs. The need at wide receiver is great to help quarterback Drake Maye in the continued development of New England's offense.

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Brown instantly brings credibility as a physically imposing and productive target. Doubs and Kayshon Boutte can take the top off defenses, allowing Brown to go to work underneath. The 28-year-old is special when asked to create after the catch, which is where he can help elevate the Patriots' offense.

The seven-year veteran's time in Philadelphia may not end well, but he still generated over 1,000 yards during all four seasons with the franchise. He's a proven option to help an ascending quarterback get even better.

New England's roster can still use upgrades among its pass rush, defensive interior, tight end and off-ball linebacker. Fortunately, each of those positions is relatively deep this year and can be selected on Day 2 or even early Day 3.

The Patriots do own four picks through the second and fourth rounds, depending on whether they need to add a little more to sweeten the deal for Brown.

How Trade Impacts NFL Draft

As noted, executives around the league expect the Patriots to land Brown sooner or later. If it happens sooner, the deal shouldn't change plans drastically for anyone sitting ahead or behind the 31st overall pick.

Right now, the biggest shift change will occur if a different trade occurs, specifically a team moving back into the first round to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

If the New York Jets do so, they could be trying to keep up with the ascending Patriots by addressing the game's most important position and building up an offense that finished among the league's bottom four last season.

Regardless of any divisional move, the Jets do need to show more urgency in this particular area.

Interestingly, the Patriots could help New York. The Jets may not want to trade up for Simpson and instead bypass the quarterback. They may not take a wide receiver in the first round, as they did in the above setups.

If those two things occur, the Patriots trading their initial selection for Brown will then push the wide receiver position down the board at least a little. Thus, the Jets could benefit by getting the next-best available prospect.

That move also creates a cascading effect for other squads looking to address wide receiver on the draft's second day.