A.J. Brown Reacts to Patriots Trade, Says Playing For Eagles Was 'An Honor' in IG Photo

After being traded to the New England Patriots on Monday, star wide receiver A.J. Brown showed gratitude to his former team.

Brown posted a statement on Instagram thanking the Philadelphia Eagles, saying it was "an honor" to play for the City of Brotherly Love.

The Eagles sent Brown to the Patriots in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick and a 2028 first-round pick. ESPN's Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss noted that the fifth-round selection will be the better of New England's two picks in that round of next year's draft.

The end of Brown's tenure in Philadelphia didn't go as either side had hoped, as he expressed his frustrations multiple times throughout the 2025 season. Still, he and the Eagles enjoyed the best of times together, as he posted back-to-back 1,400-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 before helping the team win a Super Bowl title in 2024.

Monday's trade reunites Brown with head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him for the first three years of his career with the Tennessee Titans. Brown will instantly become the No. 1 option for rising star quarterback Drake Maye in New England's passing attack.

Brown will be bringing a renewed mindset to the Patriots as he tries to help them make a second straight trip to the Super Bowl. The Eagles will forge ahead with a new crop of receivers as they try to return to title contention in 2026.