Patriots make clear thoughts about trading for A.J. Brown

TL;DR

The New England Patriots are open to trading for Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown, according to front office leader Eliot Wolf. They are actively considering moves to enhance their roster.

Patriots make clear thoughts about trading for A.J. Brown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots aren't going to fully spell it out. That's not how this works.

But if you keep reading the tea leaves, they keep making it clear that they'd be open to a trade for Philadelphia Eagles star WR A.J. Brown.

On Monday, Pats front office leader Eliot Wolf said they'll "keep the door open" to acquiring players who could help their team.

Brown could certainly help their team.

MORE:How the NFL Draft impacts Eagles-Patriots A.J. Brown trade rumors

The thinking has always been that Brown was a trade candidate this offseason, and the Eagles have done nothing to quiet that.

In recent weeks, they've signed Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore and then traded for Dontayvion Wicks. None of those guys is at Brown's level, but together, they could help fill a gap created by a potential Brown trade.

One of the complicating factors is that for the Eagles, it's better financially to trade Brown after June 1, not before. Meanwhile, it would make sense for the Pats to want to make a deal sooner rather than later, potentially before the NFL Draft to know what roster-building they have to do.

As far as knowing specific picks on offer, it might help the Eagles on that front to make a trade before the draft, too -- but they have to eat a lot more dead money that way.

In the end, it's not clear when this trade will happen, and it's not guaranteed to happen at all.

But like Wolf said: The Patriots have left the door open. Brown may end up walking through it.