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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 7: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 7, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Bengals 34-27. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Eagles have basically made it clear that A.J. Brown will not be on the team’s roster when the season begins.

In the 2026 NFL Draft, Philadelphia traded up with the Dallas Cowboys, receiving the 2oth overall pick as well as a seventh rounder in exchange for the 23rd overall pick as well as No. 114 and No. 137.

And with that move, they decided to take USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.

It’s hard not to tie this pick to Brown, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter stating that the “Eagles land more insurance for June’s expected AJ Brown trade to New England.”

Reactions To The Eagles’ Draft Pick

“Hard not to connect this to A.J. Brown,” Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar posted.

“A.J. Brown should start house hunting in North Attleboro already,” the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan commented.

“This is the fourth WR addition the Eagles have made in a little over a month: Drafted WR Makai Lemon tonight. Signed WR Hollywood Brown on 3/17 Signed WR Elijah Moore on 3/24. Traded for WR Dontayvion Wicks on 4/10. An AJ Brown trade remains likely after June 1st,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote. 

“Eagles WR investments this offseason:  Trade up to take Makai Lemon, Trade for and extend Dontayvion Wicks, Sign Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore. Seems like foreshadowing…,” ESPN’s Field Yates said.

“They’ve now added Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Elijah Moore and Lemon, in the latest sign that A.J. Brown has probably played his last down for Philly,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero stated.

“The #Eagles trade up and select #USC WR Makai Lemon. With AJ Brown likely headed elsewhere…,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport expressed. 

“Makai Lemon to the Eagles. But tell me again they’re not trading AJ Brown…,” The Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi posted. 

A.J. Brown Trade Is ‘Likely’ (REPORT)

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles “remain open to trading AJ Brown,” and the Patriots are “highly interested in acquiring the star receiver.” While conversations stalled due to the 2026 NFL Draft, they are “acquiring the star receiver, and conversations are expected to resume shortly on or before June 1,” with Schefter adding that it will “likely” result in a deal.

“As one source said about the Patriots’ pursuit of Brown, they’ll ‘definitely be engaging then,’ Schefter added.

While he points out that other teams could emerge in the trade discussions, “multiple sources say they believe Brown and the Patriots are likely to become a tandem.“

The Eagles’ decision to wait until June 1 is based on money. If the receiverwere to be traded before June 1, Philadelphia would take on a decent “dead money” hit to their salary cap this year. But, if they wait until after June 1, the team can spread it over two seasons, meaning they wouldn’t have to absorb all $43.5 million in 2026.

However, in Schefter’s report, he added that the Eagles are “not concerned about adding draft capital for this week’s draft,” but are more excited about the possibility of “acquiring additional picks in 2027 and 2028.”