Schefter maps out possible price Patriots will pay in AJ Brown deal

AJ Brown is still on the Philadelphia Eagles roster at this point in the NFL offseason.

But there appears to be a strong possibility that the All-Pro wide receiver will play for the Patriots in 2026 and beyond.

Last week, ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter reported that Brown “will likely become a Patriot on June 1.”

“The Eagles remain open to trading AJ Brown, the Patriots remain very interested in acquiring the star receiver, and talks are expected to resume soon on or before June 1, likely culminating in a deal, according to league sources,” Schefter noted.

Even if a deal is indeed agreed upon by the Patriots and Eagles for the 28-year-old receiver, it is unclear what New England would have to give up to add such an established talent to their offense.

During an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, Schefter offered his opinion on how much draft capital the Patriots could share in order to pair Drake Maye with the No. 1 wideout.

“I expect this trade to come together on June 1,” Schefter said. “Neither side is committing to that, but I think it’s expected to happen where AJ Brown will be traded to New England in June. It wouldn’t be hard to get that done.

“The Eagles are open to moving him, the Patriots want him, and I think ultimately it will involve a future first-round pick. My guess is 2028 – one in 2028. But let’s see what both sides finally figure out in the end.”

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Patriots had little appetite for moving a 2027 first-round pick.

Beyond expectations that The 2027 NFL Draft class will be full of elite prospectsthe Patriots will likely take a step back this season — in large part due to a grueling regular season schedule.

Even if the 2026 Patriots are a better team than their 2025 counterpart, New England seems unlikely to win 14 regular-season games again.

Last week, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel He was asked if a trade with the Eagles has already been agreed upon.

“No. I mean, I think we’re going to continue to try to strengthen our team,” Vrabel told reporters in Foxboro. Mark Daniels from MassLive. “The first focus will be on Thursday night and making sure we get it right, and then we’ll focus on Friday.”

Connor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.