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The New England Patriots are the frontrunner to acquire Philadelphia Eagles WR AJ Brown

Now that the 2026 NFL draft is in the books, the next big offseason milestone for Philadelphia Eagles fans is June 1.

That’s the day the team is expected to trade str wide receiver A.J. Brown, presumably to the New England Patriots.

Philadelphia and New England have been engaged in trade talks for weeks, and the June 1 target date makes a trade all the more likely when Philly’s dead-cap charge for unloading Brown drops from $43.5 million down to $16 million.

Adam Schefter Details Eagles’ Trade Compensation

GettyPhiladelphia Eagles WR AJ Brown is expected to be traded on June 1

During an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated he expects an Eagles-Patriots deal to be finalized on June 1, and he revealed what Philadelphia can likely expect in return.

“I expect that this trade will come together on June 1,” Schefter stated. “Neither side is committed to it, but both, I believe, are expected to make it happen to where A.J. Brown will wind up being traded to New England in June. It’s not going to be hard to get done.

“The Eagles are open to moving him, the Patriots want him, and I believe in the end it will involve a future first-round draft pick — my guess is 2028. But let’s see how the two sides, what they finally figure out in the end and what they ultimately decide on as compensations.”

If the Eagles agree to those terms, it would be a coup for the Patriots. Philadelphia initially set an asking price of first- and second-round picks, so for New England to get Brown and only sacrifice one draft pick, it would be a big win for executive vice president of player personnel Eliott Wolf.

The good news for Eagles fans is the team drafted USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff award winner (given to the top WR in college football), with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 draft last week.

Lemon will presumably slide right into Brown’s spot. He joins Dontayvion Wicks, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Elijah Moore as part of Philly’s revamped WR corps along with new WR1 DeVonta Smith.

Coming at it From the Patriots Side

GettyNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Philadelphia Eagles WR AJ Brown

ESPN Patriots reporters Mike Reis recently wrote there are a few WR trades in recent years that the Eagles could be looking to as a framework for the Brown trade.

He pointed to the Miami Dolphins sending Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a package that included a first-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks, and he also noted the Buffalo Bills sending Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for a second-round pick back in 2024.

However, Reis ultimately settled on the Green Bay Packers-Las Vegas Raiders trade from 2022 that involved Davante Adams.

“In the case of Brown, who turns 29 in June and has totaled 1,000 receiving yards in four straight seasons, one comparable could be the Las Vegas Raiders trading for Davante Adams in 2022,” Reis wrote. “Adams was 29 at the time, and the Raiders dealt first- and second-round picks for him.

“But it’s hard to imagine the Patriots paying such a heavy price for Brown, even considering his history playing for coach Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, in part because they don’t seem to be competing against another suitor and the 2027 draft projects to be much stronger than 2026.”

It’s always possible that the final compensation for Brown could include more than just a first-rounder.