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

patfanken · Thursday at 3:42 PM

I think the post that talked about the market for AJB was spot on. There are a limited number of teams who have the need, cap space, and draft capital to absorb an AJB. We hit all those markers. Also. we need to watch what teams will do in a week closely. What happens WILL affect AJB's market. While this year's draft is thin at QB and elite players, the WR group will find quality receivers all the way through the 4th round. Philly already added a purported starter at WR in FA. If they take a WR on one of the first 2 days the pressure to move on from AJ will only grow and they will likely take less. BTW if we take KC Concepcion in the first like I've seen mocked to us., it would take US out of the AJB picture as well

Given that we have to take his contract and the chronic injury risk, I couldn't give Philly more than a '27 #2 and a token player like Douglas or Chism. And believe me I'm not exactly thrilled to give up the 2. This is a locker room/salary dump. They NEED AJ gone at this point. All that should weaken Howie's bargaining position.

The betting odds are at 70% we get Brown. But if Howie is locked in at a first rounder, I don't see that happening

Crazy Patriot Guy · Thursday at 5:42 PM

Real fan 02 said:
Goes to show you how piss poor the wr drafting has been.. I have hope for K. Williams.

You're missing the point. PatsFan2 says you take the proven player over a draft pick that can bust "every time."

Therefore, it was a terrible decision for the Vikings to take a chance with Justin Jefferson instead of offering that pick to the Saints for a 27 year old Michael Thomas coming off a record 149 catch, 1700+ yards season. Clearly they would be better off if that happened.

By default, it was a mistake to draft every great player currently in this league.

Huckleberry1 · Thursday at 5:58 PM

PatsFan2 said:
A.J. Brown Career Stats - NFL - ESPN

Complete career NFL stats for Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver A.J. Brown on ESPN. Includes scoring, rushing, defensive and receiving stats.

www.espn.com

Look at those^ Stats I don't remember the Patriots Drafting a WR that posted those kind of stats for a very very long time. And I go back as far as Morgan and Fryar. Drake Maye will Never take this Team to the promise land until he has a #1 WR or TE. Nobody remembers the SB runner up. Yes some of us want very good talent to go along with our very good QB and not only JAGS. IF you can get a proven Player over a Draft pick that can Bust...you take that proven player every time. The Cap is always going up: stop getting hung up on Draft pick compensation. Regular Season Drake Maye can win us12 games it's the Playoffs Drake Maye I want to see improve.

You don't seem to understand that you can't build a team with proven players because they cost too much. Good teams have a good quarterback and a couple if not more high priced players they don't let go of. Those 3-4 players eat up between 30-40% of the salary cap. Then you have to split the remaining 60-70% of the cap between 48-50 players. If you went for a bunch of " proven players" you would be able to sign about 8-12 of them and be left with next to nothing to fill out the rest of the roster. There's a reason team's like the Bengals never win a Lombardi, and it's because they run their team like you would if you ran it for them.

PatsFan2 · Thursday at 6:13 PM

Crazy Patriot Guy said:
You're missing the point. PatsFan2 says you take the proven player over a draft pick that can bust "every time."

Therefore, it was a terrible decision for the Vikings to take a chance with Justin Jefferson instead of offering that pick to the Saints for a 27 year old Michael Thomas coming off a record 149 catch, 1700+ yards season. Clearly they would be better off if that happened.

By default, it was a mistake to draft every great player currently in this league.

Please don't jump when they make the Trade and compensation you and some others will be truly missed.

Crazy Patriot Guy · Thursday at 6:18 PM

PatsFan2 said:
Please don't jump when they make the Trade and compensation you and some others will be truly missed.

You keep ignoring what we're saying and going back to this over and over.

By your stated standard, was it a mistake for the Vikings to draft Justin Jefferson over trading that pick for a proven player? It's a very simple yes or no answer.

Real fan 02 · Thursday at 6:27 PM

Crazy Patriot Guy said:
You're missing the point. PatsFan2 says you take the proven player over a draft pick that can bust "every time."

Therefore, it was a terrible decision for the Vikings to take a chance with Justin Jefferson instead of offering that pick to the Saints for a 27 year old Michael Thomas coming off a record 149 catch, 1700+ yards season. Clearly they would be better off if that happened.

By default, it was a mistake to draft every great player currently in this league.

I get your point and I was trying to add to your point of drafted players as you mentioned. I was just simply referring to us as it goes to to shoe you how bad the wr drafting has been in that we haven't been able to draft and develop a wr like those teams you mentioned have. So thus we've found ourselves having to trade for guys.

The most egregious example of a wasted draft pick would be the sanu trade. Awful

Triumph · Thursday at 6:50 PM

mgteich said:
Yes, PHI is rumored to have insisted on a 2026 1st and 3rd.

A 2027 1st with the acquiring team getting to use their 2026 1st is a much, much lower ask.

I don't want AB J anyway.

It's ridiculous wasting a 1st on a guy who is turning 30 and has been a team cancer after the franchise opened the checkbook for him.

I will never get why the Pats don't mine front office people from teams that know how to find WRs in the draft. LAR and Pitt do a good job of locating stud WRs. Jerry Jackson found CD Lamb.

Rob0729 · 2026-04-17T10:34:20-0400

Triumph said:
Or, the Eagles can keep Brown.

They have to wait until 6/2 to absorb his cap hit over 2 seasons. Brown can refuse to play and sit out like TO did, The Eagles have been down this road before. A prominent WR could go down in camp and out for 2026, so that team would play ball with Roseman.

They could keep Brown. But I think they have gone beyond the point of no return. And Brown can try to force the issue if he isn't traded after June 1.

But the market isn't going to go from only the Patriots involved in the trade to one or two other teams jumping in to over pay for him. Most teams will already have spent their offseason money by then. Many teams will automatically be disqualified because Roseman won't want to reward direct competitors for the NFC crown. Others will be disqualified because Brown will refuse to report to those teams. Plus anyone with a need right now is likely going to draft a WR in the first or second round since everyone assumes the Patriots are trading for Brown.

Roseman loses leverage by waiting until June 1. The market was far greater at the start of free agency than after. And his demands were ridiculous to begin with with a WR who is close to 30 and has knee and effort concerns. Hoping a WR goes down in camp and it happens to be on a team that has the money to acquire Brown, Brown would be willing to be traded there, and they aren't handing the NFC title advantage to is a Hail Mary at best.

Rob0729 · 2026-04-17T10:36:36-0400

PatsFan2 · 2026-04-17T11:37:18-0400

Triumph said:
I don't want AB J anyway.

It's ridiculous wasting a 1st on a guy who is turning 30 and has been a team cancer after the franchise opened the checkbook for him.

I will never get why the Pats don't mine front office people from teams that know how to find WRs in the draft. LAR and Pitt do a good job of locating stud WRs. Jerry Jackson found CD Lamb.

He's actually turning 29.

Real fan 02 · 2026-04-17T12:33:44-0400

Triumph said:
I don't want AB J anyway.

It's ridiculous wasting a 1st on a guy who is turning 30 and has been a team cancer after the franchise opened the checkbook for him.

I will never get why the Pats don't mine front office people from teams that know how to find WRs in the draft. LAR and Pitt do a good job of locating stud WRs. Jerry Jackson found CD Lamb.

Stretch was in LAR. I have hope for Williams. The Vrabel regime is just getting started l year 2.. they are going to need at least this draft and one more to get this roster where's Vrabel truly wants it..let's see what happens this draft and if If K. Williams makes that year 2 jump.

Dec54 · 2026-04-17T12:34:21-0400

If no WR is taken early, or one not at all, Does that mean AJ is closer to becoming a Patriot?

JoeSixPat · 2026-04-17T13:22:58-0400

Dec54 said:
If no WR is taken early, or one not at all, Does that mean AJ is closer to becoming a Patriot?

Keep in mind that the price to be paid for an AJ Brown trade is likely going to be next year's first round pick PLUS one of the WRs we have now.

I'd think that the Eagles will demand Boutte as part of the trade - if we can haggle them down to Kyle Williams I'd like that more but either one is gone and I'd think that we'd be looking to add a WR in the 6th at the very least (along with a TE in the 4th)

Boutte himself is a 6th round pick but in the first year they may be relegated to PS or at best special teams.

I won't complain if they don't consummate a trade as to me the alternative is:

1. Keep next year's 1st round pick which given the schedule may be higher than this year's
2. Keep Boutte on the team and re-sign Diggs on a short term contract and continue to spread the ball rather than focus more on Brown with the 140-160 targets he gets when playing a full season.
3. Use AJ Brown's cap space elsewhere as we're locked into $25-$30 mil a year through 2029

I do think Brown would accept being part of a spread offense if he's winning, but we do know that he can also be a problem child if he's not getting the targets and stats he wants - if you're the Patriots though and you're spending $30 mil on a guy there's a tendency to want to give him the targets that match his salary so I'm not expecting they'll utilize him the way they did Diggs.

JoeSixPat · 2026-04-17T13:35:30-0400

Rob0729 said:

Seems like Brown wants this to happen and if he does, the Eagles probably do too

No doubt the negotiating is happening now as that can shape our draft strategy - but we should keep in mind that we're not just trading next year's 1st round pick which is likely higher than this years - we'll also have to give Philly a WR in return.

I'd think they want Boutte and I'd think the Pats would want to keep him and give up say, a Kyle Williams if they could swing it

Which begs the question "why Patriot WR do you want to give up" to make this happen

Boutte? Douglas? Mack Hollins is probably too old and not the same skills set.

No doubt Brown is a huge upgrade over Boutte but personally I want to keep him and would take Diggs back if we don't get Brown - though if we play hardball with Boutte maybe we give them extra picks and they just go sign Diggs themselves

Grogan14 · 2026-04-17T13:40:14-0400

JoeSixPat said:
Seems like Brown wants this to happen and if he does, the Eagles probably do too

No doubt the negotiating is happening now as that can shape our draft strategy - but we should keep in mind that we're not just trading next year's 1st round pick which is likely higher than this years - we'll also have to give Philly a WR in return.

I'd think they want Boutte and I'd think the Pats would want to keep him and give up say, a Kyle Williams if they could swing it

Which begs the question "why Patriot WR do you want to give up" to make this happen

Boutte? Douglas? Mack Hollins is probably too old and not the same skills set.

No doubt Brown is a huge upgrade over Boutte but personally I want to keep him and would take Diggs back if we don't get Brown - though if we play hardball with Boutte maybe we give them extra picks and they just go sign Diggs themselves

Give up:

Douglas first
Boutte 2nd
Kyle Williams third

Kyle Williams has speed which pats desperately need. His ceiling is the highest

n1997y · 2026-04-17T13:46:45-0400

Grogan14 said:
Give up:

Douglas first
Boutte 2nd
Kyle Williams third

Kyle Williams has speed which pats desperately need. His ceiling is the highest

Either one of the first two.

We already know what we have with them, it’s too early to give up on Kyle Williams.

PatsFan2 · 2026-04-17T14:45:41-0400

Grogan14 said:
Give up:

Douglas first
Boutte 2nd
Kyle Williams third

Kyle Williams has speed which pats desperately need. His ceiling is the highest

IF K Boutte is included the compensation should only be a Second. Regarding Pop it shouldn't matter: Pop and two biscuits shouldn't move the needle.

rochrist · 2026-04-17T16:08:30-0400

Rob0729 said:
Many people said the same thing about Randy Moss in the offseason of 2007.

Brown, like Moss was in 2006, is miserable where he is and frustrated with the offense. Brown may have been like Moss in 2006 and mailing in the effort because of it. There was a lot wrong with the Eagles offense last year way beyond any issues with Brown.

Many people believe that his lack of production last year was motivation issues over deteriorating skills. That is what happened with Moss in 2006. And other WRs in bad situations have mailed it in and then rebounded in a new situation. Look how George Pickens went from an average #1 WR in Pittsburgh to a top receiver in the league in Dallas.

I just watched video of Moss with Oakland. He was FAR better than Brown. He had no trouble getting separation. His problem was having gawdawful QBs thrown to him.

p8ryts · 2026-04-17T16:53:11-0400

JoeSixPat said:
Keep in mind that the price to be paid for an AJ Brown trade is likely going to be next year's first round pick PLUS one of the WRs we have now.

I'd think that the Eagles will demand Boutte as part of the trade - if we can haggle them down to Kyle Williams I'd like that more but either one is gone and I'd think that we'd be looking to add a WR in the 6th at the very least (along with a TE in the 4th)

Boutte himself is a 6th round pick but in the first year they may be relegated to PS or at best special teams.

I won't complain if they don't consummate a trade as to me the alternative is:

1. Keep next year's 1st round pick which given the schedule may be higher than this year's
2. Keep Boutte on the team and re-sign Diggs on a short term contract and continue to spread the ball rather than focus more on Brown with the 140-160 targets he gets when playing a full season.
3. Use AJ Brown's cap space elsewhere as we're locked into $25-$30 mil a year through 2029

I do think Brown would accept being part of a spread offense if he's winning, but we do know that he can also be a problem child if he's not getting the targets and stats he wants - if you're the Patriots though and you're spending $30 mil on a guy there's a tendency to want to give him the targets that match his salary so I'm not expecting they'll utilize him the way they did Diggs.

I'm a Boutte fan but don't won't to let Williams go. I thought he was getting open at the during the playoffs but QB didn't have time to find him.

captain stone · 2026-04-17T19:42:30-0400

Ross12 said:
Well in light of some of the comments from Eliot Wolf today, maybe they do trade their 1st round pick?

Maybe something like pick 31 in exchange for Brown and a 3rd coming back. Perhaps they’d prefer to make a lot of picks in the middle rounds to have more shots to get specific guys they want (using their many 6ths as trade-up currency) and this move would get them the WR they want while still getting a day 2 pick back which is likely a contributor.

Possible trade-down with Arizona so they can draft Ty Simpson ahead of the Jete...? I'd do it, unless Caleb Lomu's still available...

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