Patriots Land A.J. Brown for 2028 First-Round Pick and 2027 Fifth as Eagles Reset
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 8
Patriots Land A.J. Brown for 2028 First-Round Pick and 2027 Fifth as Eagles Reset
3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 8
Summary
New England finalized the A.J. Brown trade last Monday by sending Philadelphia a 2028 first-round pick and the higher of its two 2027 fifth-rounders.
Post-June 1 timing helped unlock the deal: the Eagles wanted a first-rounder plus another meaningful pick, and the Patriots would not move their 2027 first before agreeing to center talks on a 2028 first.
Brown’s history with Mike Vrabel and long-running interest from personnel chief Eliot Wolf kept New England engaged after earlier pursuits of other top receivers and repeated Eagles rejections in 2025.
Philadelphia had also explored a Rams package built around a 2028 first, while Brown’s camp identified four acceptable AFC destinations; Buffalo, Kansas City and the Chargers ultimately fell away, leaving the Patriots.
Medical review was central because Brown has a managed degenerative knee condition, but both sides grew confident by the draft, with the Eagles drafting Makai Lemon and the Patriots bypassing receivers in anticipation of the move.