Patriots Rumor A.J. Brown trade rumors heat up - Should Patriots get him?

[Ross12]

Is there such a thing in the NFL as trading for a conditional pick? For example, Pats give up first round pick but only if it's pick 15 or later. If it's an early pick, then a second and a late round pick.

That is something I have seen in the NBA but I'm not sure if it is possible in the NFL. The conditions in the NFL are almost always tied to the performance of the traded player, not the team as a whole.

 

[PatsFan2]

I do think Waddle is better than Brown.

You probably think Doubs is better than Brown too...smdh.

 

[Rob0729]

I do think Waddle is better than Brown.

I don't. He is good, but Brown is better.

 

[PatsFan2]

When you act with desperate intentions you set your team back in the future. I don’t think our backs are against any wall.
Would it be nice to have AJ. Yes. We could get Diggs for no compensation if we feel the need. Our receiving corpse is competitive right now just not great. I am all in on AJ just not at the desperate cost

Maybe Vrabel's thinking regarding WR's is opposite form BB. Every other Young promising QB have a Shiny toy or two @ WR. Drake Maye with a True #1 should be something to watch. That said Diggs better days are way behind him...Brown got at least Three very good years left he'll turn 29 not 33.

 

[patman52]

Jaylon Waddle (1st and 3rd) and DJ Moore (2nd) may cause this potential trade to derail.

you understand that Waddle deal is vet min this year. That increases his value by leaps. The phins did not want to trade him and turnred down offers earlier for him. Both Brown and the eagles want him out, apples and oranges.

 

[condon84]

If we are truly bidding against ourselves, then it makes no sense at all to give them a 1st round pick. Low ball these dudes and if they don't like it, re-sign Diggs. Maye should be better and he elevates everyone around him.

We never needed to move like this with Brady. Mahomes won 2SBs without Hill.

 

[Ross12]

Folks keep talking about "making room for AJ Brown's contract" but I don't think they realize it is not going to hit the books for much at all from a cap space perspective. Most of his deal is tied into annual option bonuses. Based on my napkin math here's what I'm expecting:

2026:
- $7M cap hit
2027:
- $11M cap hit
2028:
- $18M cap hit
2029:
- Cut or traded at age 32, $46M dead money charge

This is very affordable and not an issue until 3 years from now when he's gone, and is a one-year issue they can plan for. He is not going to be taking up cap space that needs to go to Gonzo or Maye. It's somewhat more expensive each year from a real cash perspective for ownership but that is a different conversation and not what I see most people talking about.

 

[scott99]

We will see. If they get AJ and give up a 1st then I will cheer him on. I am nothing more than a potted plant in that room. Just my thoughts on what I think he’s worth. I’ve been wrong many times

You and me both brother. I’ve been wrong many more times than I’ve been right.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Well it will certainly suck if the Pats don’t get to participate in it.

One pick doesn’t make a draft.
Yes not picking in the 1st sucks, but the draft doesn’t end at pick 32.

 

[PatsFan2]

Folks keep talking about "making room for AJ Brown's contract" but I don't think they realize it is not going to hit the books for much at all from a cap space perspective. Most of his deal is tied into annual option bonuses. Based on my napkin math here's what I'm expecting:

2026:
- $7M cap hit
2027:
- $11M cap hit
2028:
- $18M cap hit
2029:
- Cut or traded at age 32, $46M dead money charge

This is very affordable and not an issue until 3 years from now when he's gone, and is a one-year issue they can plan for. He is not going to be taking up cap space that needs to go to Gonzo or Maye. It's somewhat more expensive each year from a real cash perspective for ownership but that is a different conversation and not what I see most people talking about.

I like it up until the$46 Mill dead money charge. What a ridiculous contract the Eagles draft up.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Reiterate what I've said in an earlier post, not worth a 1st round pick.

If we were only a WR away then it makes sense, but we don't have the depth and overall talent to get rid of a 1st round pick for a WR who is on the wrong side of his prime years.

Last year's run was similar to the Commanders run the previous year. Everything fell into place for us just like it did for them. If we have to deal with injuries like the Commanders did the following year and with a first place schedule, we could realistically be picking in the top 10. Is AJ worth a top 10 pick? Hell no. It would be a disaster for us.

If we pick in the top 10 (extremely unlikely), one pick isn’t going to save us.
The first rd is littered with misses top to bottom every year.
So not only are you suggesting top 10 is possible, you completely ignore the fact that top 10 picks bust too.

 

[PatsFan2]

Folks keep talking about "making room for AJ Brown's contract" but I don't think they realize it is not going to hit the books for much at all from a cap space perspective. Most of his deal is tied into annual option bonuses. Based on my napkin math here's what I'm expecting:

2026:
- $7M cap hit
2027:
- $11M cap hit
2028:
- $18M cap hit
2029:
- Cut or traded at age 32, $46M dead money charge

This is very affordable and not an issue until 3 years from now when he's gone, and is a one-year issue they can plan for. He is not going to be taking up cap space that needs to go to Gonzo or Maye. It's somewhat more expensive each year from a real cash perspective for ownership but that is a different conversation and not what I see most people talking about.

So we'll be keeping A.J. until age 32. Guess we are locked in for Four years.

 

[Ross12]

I like it up until the$46 Mill dead money charge. What a ridiculous contract the Eagles draft up.

Not really. Looking at the cap hits it is $82M spread across four years, with half of it hitting in the last year when he is gone. However, that is also after 3 more years of the cap growing at an exponential rate. $46M dead cap will not hurt nearly as bad then as it would today, and it is the price you are paying for getting the player for a very low cap cost the prior 3 years.

They could alternatively extend him, too and push that out into the future but depends on what his role is by then and if he is slowing down. 32 is not super ridiculously old but he would likely be transitioning into more of a possession receiver at that stage.

 

[PatsFan2]

If we pick in the top 10 (extremely unlikely), one pick isn’t going to save us.
The first rd is littered with misses top to bottom every year.
So not only are you suggesting top 10 is possible, you completely ignore the fact that top 10 picks bust too.

Really hoping it's a 2028 First Rounder... the 2027 Draft is going be great one. Would love to have a First Rounder in that one other than 2028.

 

[The Gr8est]

I'm beginning to think that for Hiowie the key to the compensation on this trade is the term "First Round" I think we all believe that Brown is NOT worth a first round pick in any year due to his age and chronic knee issues. So to make Philly happy we have to give the PERCEPTION of giving them a first round pick, yet not give them the VALUE of a first round pick and that is why putting it in a future year, like 28-30 might work and/or bringing something back like a 3rd or 4th would as well. They get to say they got a first, and we get the talent for his true value and fair price.

Or, Howie can deal with reality and you don’t always get what you want.

Why should the Pats have to do anything to assuage Howie’s ego?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Or, Howie can deal with reality and you don’t always get what you want.

Why should the Pats have to do anything to assuage Howie’s ego?

Always a mix.
How bad you want the player and what you have to give up to acquire.
If Howie’s well known insistence to “win every deal” gets in the way of reality, you move on and let the Eagles keep him.

 

[PatsFan2]

Not really. Looking at the cap hits it is $82M spread across four years, with half of it hitting in the last year when he is gone. However, that is also after 3 more years of the cap growing at an exponential rate. $46M dead cap will not hurt nearly as bad then as it would today, and it is the price you are paying for getting the player for a very low cap cost the prior 3 years.

They could alternatively extend him, too and push that out into the future but depends on what his role is by then and if he is slowing down. 32 is not super ridiculously old but he would likely be transitioning into more of a possession receiver at that stage.

Diggs had over 1000yds at age 32 so, it's not really the cliff for a proven Wide Receiver.

 

[The Gr8est]

If we pick in the top 10 (extremely unlikely), one pick isn’t going to save us.
The first rd is littered with misses top to bottom every year.
So not only are you suggesting top 10 is possible, you completely ignore the fact that top 10 picks bust too.

If the Pats have a bad enough year that they’re picking in the top 10, it would be disastrous to have traded away their 1st round pick.

Don’t try and sugar coat this.

 

[PatsFan2]

If the Pats have a bad enough year that they’re picking in the top 10, it would be disastrous to have traded away their 1st round pick.

Don’t try and sugar coat this.

Regular Season Drake Maye won't make that happen.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

If the Pats have a bad enough year that they’re picking in the top 10, it would be disastrous to have traded away their 1st round pick.

Don’t try and sugar coat this.

I’m not sugar coating.
I 10000000000% don’t expect the Pats to be picking in the top Half of the next drafts.
So if we are going to hypothesize about the Pats picking in the top 10, we can just as easily hypothesize the Pats will pick 32nd.