Philadelphia Eagles trade A.J. Brown to New England Patriots for two draft picks
4 minutes read
👁 25 views 
Eagles agree to trade A.J. Brown to Patriots for 2 draft picks
The Philadelphia Eagles have traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the AFC champion New England Patriots for two draft picks. This move concludes Brown’s tenure with the Eagles, two years after he signed a deal that made him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.
The trade was finalized on Monday, ending a period of speculation surrounding Brown’s future. The Eagles will spread $43.4 million in dead money over the 2026 and 2027 seasons as a result of the transaction. The Patriots acquired a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in the deal.
Brown, who will turn 29 later this month, was initially acquired by the Eagles in a trade with the Tennessee Titans during the 2022 draft. He then signed a four-year contract valued at $100 million. In April 2024, he agreed to a three-year contract extension, which included $84 million in guaranteed money.
During his four seasons with the Eagles, Brown recorded 339 catches for 5,034 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in all four seasons, including consecutive seasons with over 1,400 yards. He was a key member of the team that played in the Super Bowl in the 2024 season.
Impact of the June 1 Deadline
The timing of the trade, around the June 1 deadline, is significant for salary cap accounting. This deadline allows teams to spread out dead money charges over two seasons rather than incurring the full amount in one league year. For the Eagles, waiting until June 2 or later to process the trade allowed them to spread Brown’s $43.45 million in dead money across 2026 and 2027. Had the trade occurred on or before June 1, the entire amount would have been accounted for in 2026.
The NFL’s June 1 rule specifically impacts how teams manage cap charges for players removed from a roster via release or trade. If a player is removed on or before June 1, the team must account for all remaining bonus money in that league year. If removed on June 2 or later, the team can divide that money over two seasons. For trades, the transaction must be processed by the league on June 2 or later to receive this salary cap benefit.
This mechanism allows teams to manage their salary cap more flexibly. For instance, if a player is traded on June 2 or later, the original bonus total would hit the cap in Year 1, and the remaining bonus money would hit the cap in Year 2. This was a crucial factor in the delay of Brown’s trade.
Brown’s Tenure and Departure
Despite his on-field production, Brown’s relationship with the Eagles, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, reportedly became strained. His production in 2025 also saw a decline. Brown expressed dissatisfaction with his role and production, sometimes posting cryptic messages on social media.
Incidents such as a sideline disagreement with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni during a wild-card loss to the 49ers, which required intervention from chief security officer Dom DiSandro, highlighted tensions. Brown also declined to speak to the media in the final weeks of last season and skipped voluntary organized team activities prior to the trade.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman acknowledged Brown’s talent, stating, “It is hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player.” Brown, in a social media post, thanked the Eagles, staff, and fans, writing, “Playing for this city has been an honor. And I’m thankful for every moment in midnight green.”
The Eagles had already begun to prepare for a future without Brown by selecting wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round of the April draft. They also added receivers Dontayvion Wicks, “Hollywood” Brown, and Elijah Moore to potentially complement DeVonta Smith. Brown will now be reunited with his former coach in Tennessee, Mike Vrabel, in New England.
Brown was the 51st overall pick out of Mississippi in 2019 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020.
About the Author
