ESPN Insider on A.J. Brown Patriots Trade Rumors: 'I Think He Knows Where His Future is Headed'

While the New England Patriots may not have directly targeted a top receiver in the draft last month, it sounds like a move to fill that need remains on the table ahead of training camp.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter appeared on the Pat McAfee show on Monday, with Schefter remaining confident that it’s just a matter of time before the deal for the Patriots to land Eagles receiver A.J. Brown ultimately comes to fruition. Schefter cites the June first deadline due to the financial implications that cut Brown’s dead cap significantly, making it easier on Philadelphia to consummate the move.

He also added that even despite the controversy surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel, nothing has changed and that the Patriots remain the top landing spot for Brown. The only question will likely be the terms of the deal.

“Well, I think he knows where his future is headed at this moment,” said Schefter. “And it’ll be a matter of the Patriots and the Eagles getting together to basically process the trade, finalize the trade, make sure it happens. But again, there’s nothing that has transpired here, despite all the events in New England, that has deterred this trade from coming off.”

“I still think it is on track. I still think it’s going to happen. I still think it will involve a future one, likely a 2028 first-round draft pick. I still think all these elements are in place, and I still think that once we get to June, that these two sides will get together and complete a trade that’ll send AJ Brown to the New England Patriots.”

“Now again, this morning I was watching ESPN SportsCenter early, and they had a piece where they were doing their features on ‘I Scored a Touchdown in the Super Bowl,‘ and I saw that they had AJ Brown on this one. They were featuring his touchdown in the Super Bowl. He says, ‘Hi, I’m AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles.’ And I thought to myself, they may have to edit that in about a month here coming up here. That’s what I think, but we’ll see how it all plays out.”

As it currently stands, the Patriots have Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas, and Efton Chism at the top of their wide receiver group, with Nick DeGennero, Cameron Dorner, Jimmy Kibble, and Jeremiah Webb as the dark horses competing to break into that list of names.

Adding Brown would certainly change that dynamic, while also potentially putting the futures of one of those top names in question heading into training camp.

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

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