The Eagles are hoping to resolve the A.J. Brown saga by the beginning of the new league year on Wednesday. The Patriots have shown the most interest in trading for the three-time Pro Bowl receiver, but they have balked at the Eagles’ asking price so far. The Chargers and Bills have also been connected to Brown. It turns out those three teams and the Chiefs are on Brown’s wish list, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.
With the Patriots moving on from previous No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs, their need for a starter was glaringly obvious entering free agency. To some degree, the Patriots addressed it in agreeing to a four-year, $80MM contract with former Packer Romeo Doubs on Tuesday.
Doubs will at least give the Patriots a capable starter if they are unable to close the gap in talks with the Eagles. The reigning AFC champions are not necessarily out on Brown yet, per Karen Guregian of MassLive.com. Adding Brown to Doubs would give third-year quarterback Drake Maye a tantalizing one-two punch at receiver.
The Chargers have wideouts Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and 2025 second-rounder Tre Harris under contract for next season. Johnston may be a trade candidate, though, and Keenan Allen is still unsigned. There remains room in Los Angeles for Brown, especially with the team boasting the league’s second-most cap space ($66.83MM). The Chargers are well-positioned to take on the remainder of Brown’s three-year, $96MM contract, but Breer does not regard them as serious suitors.
While Brown is open to joining Josh Allen in Buffalo, that is no longer on the table, according to Breer. The Bills agreed to acquire a different expensive veteran wideout, D.J. Moore, from the Bears last week. Moore cost the Bills a pick in Round 2, whereas the Eagles have been holding out for at least a first- and a second-rounder. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Moore is owed significant guaranteed money through 2028.
Brown could form an intimidating duo with Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, but there is no indication KC is involved in this derby. The Chiefs went into free agency focused on adding a running back, per Breer. They accomplished that mission in signing former Seahawk/Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker to a three-year, $43.05MM deal. The team also wants to use its haul of draft choices to “replenish” its roster, Breer writes. The Chiefs own two first-rounders and three of the top 40 choices in this year’s draft, but it does not appear they will part with any of them for Brown.
Brown will see $4MM of his 2027 salary guarantee on the third day of the league year, giving the Eagles limited time to move him before it vests. Trading Brown before June 1 would hit the Eagles with a $43.45MM dead cap charge, a record for his position. They would also lose $20.12MM in cap room. If general manager Howie Roseman waits until after June 1 to move Brown, the Eagles would spread the dead money over two years. Philadelphia would be stuck with $16.35MM in 2026 and $27.1MM in ’27, though it would save $7MM on its cap next season.