New England Patriots
“That may make a whole lot of sense to me. So, the Patriots have been available on the market for a receiver for fairly some time.”
The Patriots’ offseason hasn’t arrived but. When it does, although, they is perhaps looking out the marketplace for a large receiver. If that’s the case, a minimum of one NFL insider believes that the Patriots might be a prime touchdown spot for one of many sport’s prime large receivers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter “can see” the Patriots doubtlessly touchdown Eagles large receiver A.J. Brown in a commerce this offseason.
“I believe he turns into a commerce candidate right here. There’s been sufficient noise round that and him wanting out,” Schefter said on 97.5 The Fanatic’s “Unfiltered with Ricky Bo & Bill Colarulo” show in Philadelphia. “I believe it could be a shock if there weren’t talks if there weren’t talks to see what he might convey again [in a trade].
“To me, I can see him enjoying in New England subsequent 12 months beneath Mike Vrabel. Like, that might make a whole lot of sense to me. So, the Patriots have been available on the market for a receiver for fairly some time. Mike Vrabel most likely rued the day that they ever traded A.J. Brown [with the Titans]. I can see the Patriots rolling the cube on a man like that. I believe his identify will come up in commerce talks this offseason.”
Brown has been on the heart of commerce hypothesis over the previous couple of months as he expressed discontent together with his position within the Eagles’ offense within the early half of the 2025 common season. It appeared among the stress went away between Brown and the group as he remained in Philadelphia following November’s commerce deadline, however he and head coach Nick Sirianni had a notable spat on the sideline within the Eagles’ wild-card loss to the 49ers.
Brown additionally didn’t play nicely within the Eagles’ season-ending playoff loss. He solely had three receptions for 25 yards, dropping a vital move on Philadelphia’s last drive.
Eagles common supervisor Howie Roseman downplayed the concept of the Eagles buying and selling Brown when he met with reporters on Thursday, although.
“I believe that while you’re making an attempt to be a terrific group, it’s arduous to commerce nice gamers, and A.J. Brown is a superb participant,” Roseman stated. “He wears a ‘C’ for a motive. He’s an necessary a part of this group, of this group. He cares about successful, he cares about his teammates, and I believe while you’re a group like ours that’s trying ahead to a chance to compete for a championship, you simply don’t do away with guys like that.”
The Eagles would tackle a reasonably sizeable cap penalty in the event that they had been to commerce Brown this offseason. In the event that they traded Brown with a pre-June 1 designation, the Eagles would tackle a $43,448,702, per OverTheCap.com. If the Eagles traded Brown with a post-June 1 designation, they’d tackle a $16,353,496 lifeless cap hit, in accordance with OverTheCap.com.
Nonetheless, Brown might pressure the difficulty and make it untenable for the Eagles to maintain him. In truth, Brown requested for a commerce a number of occasions through the 2025 common season, SB Nation reported Friday.
Buying and selling would additionally presumably land the Eagles some draft capital, which they might use as a few of their key defensive gamers will see their rookie contracts expire within the subsequent 12 months or two. The Eagles acquired Brown for a first-round choose (No. 18 general) and a third-round choose (No. 101 general) within the 2022 NFL Draft.
After all, Brown and Vrabel spent three seasons along with the Titans, with the 2 speaking highly of each other in the past. Whereas the Patriots’ receiver play has been higher than anticipated this 12 months, Brown would seemingly turn into New England’s prime large receiver if he joined the group. He’s logged a minimum of 1,000 receiving yards in every of the primary seven years of his profession count on one, when he missed 4 video games because of damage in 2021.
Even this 12 months, Brown reached the 1,000-yard mark because of a powerful near the season. The 28-year-old recorded 40 receptions for 546 yards and 4 touchdowns within the last six video games he performed.
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