Patriots Predicted To Move On From Rising Wideout To Pursue A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown

Patriots Predicted To Move On From Rising Wideout To Pursue A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots are facing a crucial decision in the coming weeks regarding whether to pursue a trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.

If the Patriots are planning to pursue Brown, it would likely be after June 1, when his dead cap hit decreases from $43 million to $16 million for the season.

It's still to be determined what New England would need to give up to acquire Brown. However, a player could be involved, and Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently predicted the Patriots' starting lineup on Thursday, which did not include wide receiver Kayshon Boutte but instead featured Brown.

The departure of Boutte could signal that he is the player the Patriots are willing to trade to acquire Brown. Of course, the Patriots will also need to part with several draft picks, but including Boutte in the deal to secure the Eagles' star receiver could be a significant factor.