Report: A.J. Brown to Patriots trade 'still tracking to happen on or after June 1'

Even if a resolution this week is unlikely, it appears that A.J. Brown has played his final game for the Eagles.

ESPN's Adam Schefter had this to say in his pre-NFL Draft intel column Monday morning:  

No matter what happens at this week's draft, an A.J. Brown trade to the Patriots is still on the table and still tracking to happen on or after June 1, per league sources. The two sides have discussed a deal, but neither has been willing to commit to it until after June 1, when Brown's $40 million salary cap charge would be split between this and next year.

According to Over The Cap, if the Eagles traded Brown before June 1 — let's say, during this week's NFL Draft — it would leave them with a $43.45 million dead cap hit in 2026. However, if they trade Brown after June 1, the Eagles would be left with a $16.35 million dead cap hit in 2026, and then the remainder of the $43.45 million (approximately $27.1 million) in 2027. 

Exactly what the Eagles will get in return for Brown is unclear, but if it happens after June 1, it obviously won't include a pick(s) in the 2026 NFL Draft. It's possible that any draft-pick compensation will be conditional, meaning it can rise in value based on how Brown produces in 2026 for the defending AFC Champions. Expectations should probably be tempered, though, because it doesn't seem that the Eagles have a bunch of teams at the table bidding to trade for Brown. 

This offseason, the Eagles have already signed Hollywood Brown and traded for Dontayvion Wicks, who they gave a one-year/$12.5 million extension on the way in the door. They would each seem on track to be key parts of a receiving corps led by DeVonta Smith, assuming Brown does indeed get traded. It will be interesting to see whether the Eagles also use a high draft pick on a wideout with the expectation Brown won't be in Midnight Green in 2026.