Did the NFL make the wrong decision to open the season with Patriots vs. Seahawks?
USA TODAY Sports’ NFL experts discuss why the league missed out on opening the season with a Super Bowl rematch between New England and Seattle.
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One of the most important and highly anticipated moves of the NFL offseason has finally happened.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced on June 1 that they have agreed to trade three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver AJ Brown to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
The move has long been expected to occur sometime after the close of business on June 1, at which point the $43.45 million dead cap cost of Brown’s transfer could be spread over two seasons rather than being fully absorbed in 2026.
Now, two of the NFL’s top Super Bowl candidates have fundamentally changed their offensive outlook in the short term.
Brown, who turns 29 in June, will be reunited with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, who started his career with the Tennessee Titans.
In Philadelphia, Brown was hailed as one of the NFL’s toughest matchups and one of the league’s most volatile young stars. He helped the Eagles reach two Super Bowls during his four-year tenure, with the Eagles winning their second title in the 2024 season.
However, Brown also frequently vented his frustrations with the team’s offense. His frustrations seemed to reach a boiling point last November, when he said things were “a (expletive) show.” He finished the year with 1,003 receiving yards (the franchise’s lowest single-season mark) as Philadelphia struggled, losing in the Wild Card to the San Francisco 49ers and ending its Super Bowl title defense.
As a result, general manager Howie Roseman spent months trying to avoid questions about a possible trade. Roseman initially said in January, “It’s hard to find great players in the NFL, but AJ is a great player,” before returning to those same words every time he was asked about a possible trade, saying, “AJ Brown is an Eagle.”
Now he’s gone.
In February 2024, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Elliott Wolf talked about the need for the organization to “arm offense” as the organization moves on from the Bill Belichick era.
By landing Brown, Wolf may have finally accomplished his goal.
New England ranked second in the NFL in scoring last year, thanks in large part to second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s help developing an underdeveloped receiving corps. But without a true go-to target, sacks remained the biggest problem for the NFL MVP runner-up, who had an NFL-record 21 throughout the playoffs. Maye was dismantled at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks during the Patriots’ Super Bowl, taking six punches.
With the addition of Brown, Maye will finally have his best weapon in his third season. New England signed Romeo Dubs to a four-year deal in March, but his addition doesn’t appear to change the receiver corps, and they also lost Stefon Diggs, their most productive contributor a year ago, who was released after one season. However, adding brown can make a dramatic difference.
Long known as one of the toughest receivers in the NFL for opponents to deal with in man coverage, Brown could benefit from both quick hits and a deep passing game, with Maye already excelling in the latter area.
The Patriots’ acquisition of Brown has become widely anticipated, with Patriots players freely discussing the possibility of a move in organized team activities in May.
“He’s a great guy,” Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams said of Brown, with whom he played three seasons in Philadelphia before heading to New England last offseason. “A monster on the field, a great player in the locker room, holds his players accountable, holds himself accountable.
“You can see the noise. He’s a hell of a player. He can definitely help our team, but they’re not paying me to do it.”
Although Eagles leaders have kept their intentions to acquire Brown a secret when asked in interviews, moves over the past three months have shown the team is at least preparing for the possibility of moving on from its star player.
Philadelphia at least appeared to have begun implementing a contingency plan when Roseman was traded to the Green Bay Packers for receiver Dontaevion Wicks, but the general manager declined to reveal the motivations for the deal in April. The Eagles continued to blaze new trails in their passing attack, taking MacKailemon from USC with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft in April.
Both are likely to play complementary roles next to DeVonta Smith, who posted nearly identical numbers to Brown last season (77 catches, 1,008 receiving yards) and are poised to become the focal point of the aerial attack.
Brown’s departure is the latest departure for an offense in transition. Coordinator Kevin Pattullo was fired from his role after one season and replaced by Sean Mannion. Sean Mannion is a first-time play caller and could be used more often than ever with quarterback Jalen Hurts under center.
“I’m a huge fan of AJ Brown. He’s one of my really good friends and one of my favorite teammates I’ve ever had,” running back Saquon Barkley said during an OTA session on May 27. “I want you to respect him as a guy, but this is a business. It’s the NFL. If I’m not here, Jalen isn’t here. No matter who’s here, the show goes on.”
Brown is under contract through 2029, but has no guaranteed salary in the final two years of his contract. His guaranteed salary in 2026 will be just $29 million, and his guaranteed salary in 2027 will be just $4 million.
Brown briefly held the title of the NFL’s highest-paid receiver when he signed a three-year, $96 million extension in April 2024. He currently ranks No. 7 in average annual value on contract, surpassed by several peers who have taken advantage of a rapidly escalating market over the past two years.
- Career reception: 524
- Career receiving yards: 8,029
- Total touchdown receptions: 56
In a single move, the Patriots went from a lackluster receiver corps to one of the most talented groups in the league.
If Brown takes over, Douce should serve as a high-end No. 2 target.
There are plenty of options behind the top two targets, including Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams.
