Poll: Status of AJ Brown Deal

[condon84]

I don't like giving up a first round pick tbh. AJ is gonna be 30 next year. He already has shown he's not as explosive as he used to be. If we were only a WR piece away from winning the SB then it makes sense, but there's a real possibility we drop back from the pack next year when we play a much harder schedule. Our OL got heavily exposed against better DLs. I wouldn't be surprised if we pick in the late teens (as a wildcard team). That's a high price to pay for an aging WR imo.

 

[Bill Lee]

Why would Philly even agree with that though?

Are we offering so much that another team wouldn't maybe offer better in a month when he's actually available?

It doesn't make sense that Philly would be afraid they couldn't get a 2028 first or 2027 second from some team when they decide to trade AJ Brown. The guy's a stud.

Looking around what do other #1 1000 yard WR's with a bad QB go for? It seems we would be paying much more than people think to get Philly to agree to a trade a month in advance.

I guess this shows why I started the poll.

We get opinions from "I don't want an expensive WR with bad knees" to "he's a stud so beware of someone else upping the offer".

My opinion kinda takes in both points: we will have to pay a lot for him, so given his age, and the miles on his tire, and his big contract, IMO we're better off not doing the deal. It's better for our future to keep our draft capital and/or young players.

Unlike some others, I'm perfectly happy going into 2026 with the current WR room.

To me, Brown is a luxury, not a necessity.

Yet, given both the media buzz and the draft actions of both teams, I feel confident that there is a deal in place.

Why Philly would agree to a firm deal weeks ago is because (a) Brown was on the market for months and no one else was meeting their asking price and (b) we probably did meet that price, under the stipulation that they couldn't back out because we were going to draft knowing we had a deal for Brown.

In essence we'll have paid a premium price for Brown to lock in the deal early, which is exactly what your last sentence said.

Also, if we did this, it's because our coaches and front office people rate Brown so highly that they're not going to feel bad about the high price they will end up paying.

Based on all this, I am feeling a lot of people will hear the news and be upset because they'll feel we've over-payed for Brown.

I think it'll be interesting to look back at this poll a month from now to see what our collective opinion was, versus what actually happens.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Interesting that no one here thinks that Boutte or another player will be part of this trade - especially if we're not including a 1st round draft pick

Lots of media speculation that it would be Boutte even after Philly moved up to get Lemon in the draft, but to me that could indicate that a non-WR might be in the mix as Philly still has decent depth at WR even without Boutte.

Boutte's on the last year of his contract so I'm open to including him - but I'm still very open to the Pats deciding to nix this plan if the price is too high - which puts Philly in an awkward spot as they are probably planning ahead for some cap relief from Brown.

Keeping our draft picks, keeping Boutte for this season, and re-signing Diggs, who had more catches on fewer targets than Brown, for much LESS than Brown, strikes me as a pretty good fallback plan as we already know that Diggs is a proven contributor for Maye.

If you hated the spread offense last season even though it worked well, you will LOVE seeing Brown become a focal point of a much more predictable offense. But if you liked the 2025 offense, that's not a bad fallback.

Patriots urged to cut ties with Kayshon Boutte, acquire Eagles' $96 million record-breaking WR

According to an NFL insider, the New England Patriots should complete a blockbuster wide receiver trade this offseason.

sports.yahoo.com

Patriots Reporter Names Player Who Could Head To Eagles In A.J. Brown Trade | NESN

A Patriots reporter named a player that New England could trade to the Philadelphia Eagles for wide receiver A.J. Brown.

nesn.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Deal is already in place, maybe a player, likely a 4th or 3rd at most.

Pretty sure Diana Russini’s source was rock solid.

He was in more ways than one...

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Is the marshfield fair still awesome? I haven't been in 25 years but it was 1 of my favorite in the country

Think so, it's been a few...

 

[Vindicate]

tomlin? maybe when he started in pitt, but at the end there don't think he manage egos all that well... the stillers hid all that **** from prying eyes, then kicked em loose... the egos ran wild there., and sometimes it slipped into the media.. antonio brown, leveon bell, george pickens, chase claypool...$10 talent, ¢10 heads ...

coughlin? thats a dude who would chew your ass off for getting a hang nail without permission.

Tomlins does always come down to the question of: was he better managing egos or better at managing perceptions; because the stories of having to give AB special treatment were interesting. I think it's fair to lodge the criticism you have.

Coughlin was also good at taking cues from his staff when he was being too hard (from what I've read). I'm not saying they're perfect but they did better than most at time. Walsh is another coach who was great at managing ego and wrote a lot about it.

I believe Brown on the Patriots would be similar to how Marty Bennett was for Bill. Martellus was a hot head.

Any other coaches who were great at that? I assume you could toss Parcells in there, too.

 

[Vindicate]

I don't like giving up a first round pick tbh. AJ is gonna be 30 next year. He already has shown he's not as explosive as he used to be. If we were only a WR piece away from winning the SB then it makes sense, but there's a real possibility we drop back from the pack next year when we play a much harder schedule. Our OL got heavily exposed against better DLs. I wouldn't be surprised if we pick in the late teens (as a wildcard team). That's a high price to pay for an aging WR imo.

This is really my one and only hang-up. But we did make moves to improve the OL, so if the staff feels that they've done enough there.... Who knows. Hard to tell at this moment in time. I was far less into the trade before, but I guess I won't be mad if it happens, I'll just choose to trust the coaching believes that Brown is one of the last missing pieces to a championship, and not just one among many.

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

There’s nothing stopping another team (who has the money to afford him) from leapfrogging the Patriots and signing AJ.

If th Eagles are just hoping to wash their hands of him and the Patriots offered a 3rd a lot of teams who are “close” could probably deal a better offer:

I think he’s going to be a Patriot, if he’s not better get to plan B, you have Jauan Jennings or bring back Diggs and hope he’s not missing time after jis court case

Also wouldn’t hate to take a year flier on Tyreek Hill, back mid season and see if he still has a step ahead of people with Drakes arm

 

[moosekill]

There’s nothing stopping another team (who has the money to afford him) from leapfrogging the Patriots and signing AJ.

If th Eagles are just hoping to wash their hands of him and the Patriots offered a 3rd a lot of teams who are “close” could probably deal a better offer:

I think he’s going to be a Patriot, if he’s not better get to plan B, you have Jauan Jennings or bring back Diggs and hope he’s not missing time after jis court case

Also wouldn’t hate to take a year flier on Tyreek Hill, back mid season and see if he still has a step ahead of people with Drakes arm

We have no idea what the deal is, if there even is a deal. If there is a deal in place, my assumption would be it was a gentlemen's agreement for whatever compensation both teams agreed to. If that is the case they won't back out if someone comes in offering a bit more. If it is a we will talk again after June 1 then whomever offers the best deal wins.

If I had to guess, based upon how the pats and the eagles went through free agency and the draft, there is a hard deal in place that will be announced June 1. But that is a guess.

I also wouldn't think the Eagles would be interested in any of our wide receivers, my guess is it will just be a draft pick.

Just my two cents.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

The story about the future first in 2028 is a complete minefield it might seem alright in the moment cause you keep all the picks in the loaded 2027 draft but you are one QB injury away from any team turning into one of the worst the 7-8 teams in the league.

Turning up at the 2028 draft with the Eagles picking in the top 8 picks of the draft with your pick and the Pats having a WR entering his age 31 season will look like a fireable offense.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

There’s nothing stopping another team (who has the money to afford him) from leapfrogging the Patriots and signing AJ.

If th Eagles are just hoping to wash their hands of him and the Patriots offered a 3rd a lot of teams who are “close” could probably deal a better offer:

I think he’s going to be a Patriot, if he’s not better get to plan B, you have Jauan Jennings or bring back Diggs and hope he’s not missing time after jis court case

Also wouldn’t hate to take a year flier on Tyreek Hill, back mid season and see if he still has a step ahead of people with Drakes arm

Yeah, you must be drunk.

 

[Thelonious]

I predict Brown goes to KC for 2027 2nd. Pats are always just "in the conversation" and used as leverage.

I hope you are right. Let them waste resources on a delusion.

 

[Pape]

Tomlins does always come down to the question of: was he better managing egos or better at managing perceptions; because the stories of having to give AB special treatment were interesting. I think it's fair to lodge the criticism you have.

Coughlin was also good at taking cues from his staff when he was being too hard (from what I've read). I'm not saying they're perfect but they did better than most at time. Walsh is another coach who was great at managing ego and wrote a lot about it.

I believe Brown on the Patriots would be similar to how Marty Bennett was for Bill. Martellus was a hot head.

Any other coaches who were great at that? I assume you could toss Parcells in there, too.

shula, as much as i hate em, managed a team of super stars in miami thru the cocaine years with no serious blow outs... gotta give him credit for that...

and up until the team broke in super bowl 49, i thought pete carroll had a deft hand massaging egos in seattle, and probably at usc for that matter

 

[maust]

Interesting that no one here thinks that Boutte or another player will be part of this trade - especially if we're not including a 1st round draft pick

The poll not having 'Boutte or another player' being part of any trade as an option kinda precludes it being chosen, although if it were I still would have chosen RLKAG because it's the only correct answer. In other discussions regarding the potential pieces of a trade for Brown many of us speculated on it potentially including a player or players and not necessarily a WR

 

[imahobgoblin]

There’s nothing stopping another team (who has the money to afford him) from leapfrogging the Patriots and signing AJ.

If th Eagles are just hoping to wash their hands of him and the Patriots offered a 3rd a lot of teams who are “close” could probably deal a better offer:

I think he’s going to be a Patriot, if he’s not better get to plan B, you have Jauan Jennings or bring back Diggs and hope he’s not missing time after jis court case

Also wouldn’t hate to take a year flier on Tyreek Hill, back mid season and see if he still has a step ahead of people with Drakes arm

They have to have a Plan B. Jennings, Aiyuk, Diggs, Hill, and a ton of UDFA may be part of that. If AJ will cost 1 first round pick, you have to consider Pickens for 2. There are a lot of moving parts.

 

[Bill Lee]

Deal is already in place, maybe a player, likely a 4th or 3rd at most.

Pretty sure Diana Russini’s source was rock solid.

Let's hope it's a happy ending for all of us!

 

[Thelonious]

Can there really be a deal in place?

What if June 1st comes, and another team offers more?

We can only hope so.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I don't think they should give up a 1st in any year, but the Patriots are smarter than I am about that stuff.

I just have a bad feeling about treating A.J. Brown like the next Randy Moss. Until the Pats show they've actually figured out how to protect Drake, I'm sticking with "build from the inside out." I'd be more comfortable with a 3 in 2027 and a 7 in 2028. Same "Value" as a 1 but less risky. I know a lot of y'all will disagree with that.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I predict Brown goes to KC for 2027 2nd. Pats are always just "in the conversation" and used as leverage.

Makes sense. KC's window is closing with Mahomes. They're more likely to pay more than they should.

 

[Raccoonsuit]

I've come from the future. AJ Brown went for a 2nd and 4th. Philly didn't want any of our receivers