Patriots, Eagles ‘not particularly close’ on Brown trade

For most of the last month, the writing seemed to be on the wall that AJ Brown was headed to the Patriots.

Multiple reports — including from longtime ESPN reporter Adam Schefter — have indicated that the All-Pro wideout is expected to head to New England as part of a blockbuster deal, with a potential handshake deal expected to be finalized sometime after June 1.

But on Wednesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport called off a potential trade between the Patriots and Eagles that has already become a done deal.

From insiders @NFLNetwork: #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts knows he may have worked with AJ Brown for the last time. But when that happens it’s a different story. pic.twitter.com/qQWhPZkp8G

– Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 27, 2026

“As far as the actual trade, though, we’re all waiting for June 1 to happen, so the cap hit is half for the Philadelphia Eagles, and they can trade him,” Rapoport said on NFL Network on Wednesday. “I don’t know that it’s easy to come to an agreement, because both sides are where they are, which is that the Eagles want a first-round pick in 2027.

“The Patriot, the most likely destination – we’ll see if someone else shows up – but the Patriot, the most likely destination, [are] He’s not willing to give up a first-round pick as of yet. This means that they are not particularly close and it means that there is a possibility that this will continue for the foreseeable future.

This isn’t the first time Rapoport has urged caution over reports that Brown’s arrival in Foxboro will be certain after June 1.

During an appearance on the “Between The Tackles” radio show last week, Rapoport said there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to New England completing a deal for the 28-year-old.

“Would I be surprised if it didn’t happen? I think I would be surprised if it didn’t happen,” Rapoport said. “But I don’t think either side has gotten there yet, and I don’t think either side has talked about it at some point with each other.”

June 1 remains a key date regarding any potential trade, as the Browns’ salary cap charges will be spread out between 2026 and 2027 after that date.

If Philly deals Brown before June 1, they will be on the hook for $43.3 million. If they trade him after June, that cap hit would drop to $16.3 million — a more palatable outcome for an Eagles team still trying to win another Super Bowl title over the next few years.

Of course, the Eagles and GM Howie Roseman wouldn’t deal Brown for pennies on the dollar either.

“To me, this is not a secret deal that the Patriots and Eagles are going to unveil on June 1.” “It’s not, and I don’t even know that it’s going to be finalized on June 1 because basically, from my understanding, the Eagles want a 2027 first-round pick,” Rapoport said last week.

Even if Roseman and the Eagles pursue a 2027 first-round pick, Schefter suggested last month on “The Pat McAfee Show” that New England might be able to get the deal done by parting ways with other valuable draft capital.

“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. That’s not going to be hard to make happen.

“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.”

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