A.J. Brown getting traded to Patriots ‘probably the most likely scenario’

TL;DR

A.J. Brown is likely to be traded to the New England Patriots, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The trade is expected to happen after June 1, when Brown's contract becomes more manageable for the Eagles.

Key points

A.J. Brown is a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The New England Patriots are reportedly interested in trading for him.
Ian Rapoport believes a trade is likely after June 1.

New England PatriotsPhiladelphia EaglesTennessee Titans

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the game at Northwest Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images With the first round of the NFL Draft coming up in just seven days, the rumor mill is working overtime. Not all rumors are directly tied to the event, though, as New England Patriots fans probably know by now. Their team, after all, has been linked to one specific player for quite some time now: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. And according to one insider, it seems to be only a matter of when rather than if the 28-year-old will be sent to the Patriots. “Obviously, Post-June 1 is a very big date in the A.J. Brown sweepstakes, if that’s what you want to call it,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Thursday during an appearance on FS1. “Most people believe that there’s an eventual trade to the Patriots. It has not been done yet; I don’t believe it’s been done yet. And I don’t know for sure for sure that’s going to happen, because life is weird and that’s two months from now. “But that’s probably the most likely scenario, and I think if that’s the case that probably makes sense for both sides — if they can agree on a price.” The Patriots have been rumored as a potential landing spot for Brown since before he entered the league as a second-round draft pick in 2019. Back then, the team decided to select N’Keal Harry over him. Brown ended up in , where he was coached by Mike Vrabel. Seven years later, the pair now has a chance to reunite at Brown’s favorite team growing up. The timeline of the potential trade is determined by Brown’s contract, which will become more easily moveable from an Eagles perspective after June 1. At the moment, however, both teams keep playing coy. “As far as players on other teams, going to keep the door open to anything that we think may improve our roster, whether that’s with the player you mentioned or other players,” Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters when directly asked about Brown.

Q&A

What is the timeline for A.J. Brown's potential trade to the Patriots?

The trade is expected to occur after June 1, when A.J. Brown's contract becomes more easily moveable for the Eagles.

Why are the Patriots interested in A.J. Brown?

The Patriots have been linked to A.J. Brown since before he entered the league, and his potential reunion with coach Mike Vrabel adds to the intrigue.

What did Ian Rapoport say about A.J. Brown's trade prospects?

Ian Rapoport indicated that most believe a trade to the Patriots is the most likely scenario, though it has not been finalized yet.