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Major Update Emerges In AJ Brown Trade Timeline As Things Take An Unexpected Turn

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Wide Receiver AJ Brown (Photo Via Imagn Images)

The wait around a possible AJ Brown trade took another turn now. For weeks, many around the NFL expected the Philadelphia Eagles to trade Brown to the New England Patriots right after June 1. Now, that timeline looks far less certain.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said the two teams still need to work through trade talks. He pushed back on the idea that both sides already have a deal waiting for the calendar to flip to June.

“Maybe [the Eagles] do plan to get rid of him, but it doesn’t have to be right now,” Rapoport said. “The Patriots would like to have him, but that doesn’t have to be right now.”

Now this raises even more questions around one of the NFL’s biggest offseason issue. People around the league have linked Brown and the Patriots for months. Many analysts believe a trade could eventually happen because the Eagles can free up a lot of salary cap space after June 1.

Eagles And Patriots Still Need To Agree On Compensation

A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown. Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Rapoport said the real issue now centers on trade value. According to his report, Philadelphia wants a 2027 first-round pick for Brown. New England hopes to land the star receiver for less.

That disagreement could drag talks deeper into the summer.

“Once you get past June 1, the window is basically open for whenever these two sides can get to a deal,” Rapoport said. “They’re gonna have to negotiate. They’re gonna have to figure out a middle ground.”

The cap situation explains why June matters so much. If Philadelphia trades Brown before June 1, the team takes a dead cap hit of $43.44 million. A post-June 1 trade drops that number to $16.35 million.

Because of that setup, many insiders expected the Eagles to move quickly once June arrived. Rapoport’s update now suggests the timeline depends entirely on compensation.

Other teams floated around the rumors earlier this offseason. Los Angeles Rams reportedly explored a trade in March before backing away. Some analysts also mentioned the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars as possible fits.

Still, New England remains the favorite landing spot. The Patriots continue to search for a true No. 1 receiver, and head coach Mike Vrabel has strong ties around the league.

Brown turns 29 in June. He still produced good numbers in 2025 with 78 catches, 1,003 yards, and seven touchdowns in 15 games. But the question continues over whether that production still justifies a first-round pick.

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