“The recent Jaylen Waddle trade — the Denver Broncos surrendered a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and made a fourth-round pick swap — is a recent comp, though not an entirely accurate one,” Knox wrote. “The relationship between the Eagles and Brown is frayed, and the three-time Pro Bowler will turn 29 in June. Last year’s DK Metcalf trade, which was headlined by a second-round pick, is probably a fairer comparison. If another team gets involved, possibly another Super Bowl hopeful, the Eagles will be able to push for more. However, a conditional second-round pick that can become a first, at specific statistical thresholds, might be a best-case scenario for Philadelphia.”

Eagles Paved Way for A.J. Brown Trade in Draft

The biggest actual evidence the Eagles are ready to trade Brown came in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL draft when they traded up 3 spots with the Dallas Cowboys to draft USC wide receiver and Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon at No. 20 overall.

It clears the way for the Eagles to trade Brown the moment the NFL’s June 1 deadline hits — presumably to the Patriots — although Eagles general manager Howie Roseman’s comments on Thursday night seemed like any offers for Brown might still be on the table.

“A.J. is a member of the Eagles,” Roseman said on Thursday after the end of the 1st round. “We don’t have any trades that have been made, or that are done. And I think for us, we’re taking this one day at a time. We’re going to look to improve the team tomorrow, and we’ll continue to address anything that we have to with our roster, not only through this draft weekend, but we’ll continue to look for ways to improve the team throughout the offseason, and as we get into training camp.”

Brown’s Time With Eagles Coming to End

With the Patriots, Brown would reunite with his head coach on the Tennessee Titans, Mike Vrabel, and team up with quarterback and NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye.

The Eagles now appear to be headed into 2026 with a 1-2 wide receiver punch of veteran DeVonta Smith and Lemon, who was on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers when the Eagles called to tell him he was being drafted.

While Smith and Lemon will be counted on as the WR1 and WR2, they won’t be alone.

“The Eagles land another receiver: It’s USC’s Makai Lemon at No. 20 after an intra-NFC East trade with Dallas,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account. “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.”