Barnwell on the much anticipated A.J. Brown trade:...
Key takeaways
- Before the Rams decided to throw the NFL news cycle into overdrive by trading for a future Hall of Famer in Myles Garrett, there was another trade that was supposed to dominate June 1.
- There's no obvious winner or loser in this deal, but there's a lot to break down.
- I'll touch on all that here as we size up the move from all angles, starting with what Brown brings to the table.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Brown to Patriots (1:00)
Before the Rams decided to throw the NFL news cycle into overdrive by trading for a future Hall of Famer in Myles Garrett, there was another trade that was supposed to dominate June 1. And after months of waiting, the Eagles and Patriots finally consummated their long-rumored deal, with wide receiver A.J. Brown heading to New England to join Drake Maye's offense. The Eagles pick up a 2028 first-round pick in return for their star wideout, with an additional 2027 fifth-rounder heading to Philadelphia to complete the deal.
There's no obvious winner or loser in this deal, but there's a lot to break down. Why did the two sides take so long to actually execute the deal? What does it tell us about the state of the Eagles? Can they replace Brown? And moving to the third team of his NFL career, does Brown still profile as the elite wide receiver we saw early in his run in Philadelphia?