New A.J. Brown Trade Rumors Reveal Patriots, Eagles Have 'Grappled' over Compensation in Talks

The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots have been circling an A.J. Brown trade throughout the offseason, but it reportedly is far from a done deal.

NFL insider Josina Anderson reported Thursday a league source said the two sides "have recently 'grappled' over the component of the total trade compensation," which may include a "swapping of picks."

Such an update is notable just days before June 1, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in April a deal sending Brown to the Patriots was "on the table and still tracking to happen on or after June 1."

Waiting until the summer means the wide receiver's $40 million salary cap charge could be split between 2026 and 2027, so the two teams did not make the move around the 2026 NFL draft and instead could make headlines in the coming days by completing it.

At the time, Schefter called Brown in New England "the likely outcome," and Anderson's latest report underscores that sentiment with the Patriots "still casting good confidence" such a trade will eventually be completed despite the back-and-forth between the two teams.

Yet she also cited a league source who raised some caution when it comes to the Eagles general manager.

"This is still Howie Roseman we are talking about and everyone's still gonna hold all of their cards up until the start of June," the source said. "So yes, a concern always gets floated here and there in these things that someone would swoop in at the last minute, and it would be a deal that Philly couldn't refuse."

The Eagles have been operating as a team that plans on moving Brown this offseason by revamping their wide receiver room. They selected USC pass-catcher Makai Lemon in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft and also added Dontayvion Wicks, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and Elijah Moore.

As for the Patriots, they could use a true No. 1 wide receiver as they look to return to the Super Bowl for the second straight year with quarterback Drake Maye leading the way.

Stefon Diggs was the only wide receiver on the team to reach the 600-yard mark last season, and he is a free agent this offseason. Brown would immediately become New England's go-to option as a three-time Pro Bowler with more than 1,000 receiving yards in six of his seven seasons in the NFL.

But first the trade needs to be completed.