Jiles departs New England having spent two years on the practice squad and signing a futures deal in February, but he never played an official game for the team. He is 25 years old.

After spending time on the Seahawks’ practice squad, 24-year-old tight end Marshall Lang had two separate stints with the New England practice squad last season. Now, it’s up to waiting if the AJ Brown trade with the Eagles actually materialize.

Patriots need AJ Brown more than ever

The Patriots didn’t have the best of drafts, and controversy around Mike Vrabel has this team in the middle of a PR crisis. Add that to the actual need to add a star wideout and the AJ Brown move needs to happen or this team could go into disarray.

This team is fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, but now it appears like it is destined to suffer the classic Super Bowl hangover. The Patriots have to make moves and prove that they still belong to the top-tier level of the NFL.

AJ Brown would thrive with Drake Maye at QB

AJ Brown is an elite weapon and arguably a top five wideout in the league. Pair him to the MVP runner-up and one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL like Drake Maye, and this could be an unstoppable duo.

Brown excels at contested catches, physicality, raw speed, and intermediate-to-long routes. The Patriots had Stefon Diggs last season and that was enough to get to the Super Bowl, and AJ Brown is much better at this point than Diggs. Hence, he could put this team in a whole new level.

“The Patriots want AJ Brown and the Eagles are willing to move on from AJ Brown. I expect that this trade will come together on June 1…it’s not gonna be hard to get it done…I believe in the end it will involve a future 1st round draft pick, my guess is a 1 in 2028,” Adam Schefter reported on The Pat McAfee Show.

In Foxborough, they are looking for a replacement following the departure of Stefon Diggs. The idea is for it to be one with experience, talent, and explosiveness—something Mike Vrabel knows very well about Brown from their time together with the Tennessee Titans.

Why would A.J. Brown arrive in New England as of June 1?

The rumored arrival of A.J. Brown in New England is strategically timed for after June 1 to maximize salary cap flexibility for the Philadelphia Eagles. By waiting until this date, the Eagles can split Brown’s massive $43.4 million dead cap hit across the 2026 and 2027 seasons, rather than absorbing the entire penalty in a single year.

This accounting maneuver provides Philadelphia with roughly $20 million in immediate cap relief, making the trade financially viable, while allowing the Patriots to officially acquire their projected WR1 for quarterback Drake Maye.

Patriots look to fill the void left by Stefon Diggs

In his lone season with the New England Patriots, Stefon Diggs was a highly productive weapon for Drake Maye, recording 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns in 17 games during the 2025 campaign.

Despite leading the team in catches and yards, his production dipped in the playoffs—averaging only 27.5 yards per game across four postseason appearances—and he faced significant off-field legal issues late in the year.

The aerial attack of Drake Maye in New England so far

Stefon Diggs is gone, Romeo Doubs has arrived, and Kayshon Boutte is still on the roster. These are the options that Drake Maye currently has in his receiving corps ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Speaking to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Roseman said “A.J. is a member of the Eagles. We don’t have any trades that have been made, or that are done.” Now, at face value, that is true, but rumors have been flying about a potential trade of AJ Brown to the Patriots post June 1st.

Roseman is also a devious guy. He constantly swerves the media or even other front offices in the NFL. He is very careful with words, and that’s what makes him one of the best general managers in the league.

Reading between the lines, AJ Brown is all but gone

While Roseman may not want to admit it just yet, AJ Brown is getting traded after June 1st. If not, picking Makai Lemon in the 2026 NFL Draft makes no sense. The Eagles already had Devonta Smith, Hollywood Brown, Dontayvious Wicks and many more on the roster. If AJ Brown was staying, there was little to no need for Lemon.

In fact, the Eagles had to bogart the Steelers to get Lemon. Between the lines, Roseman’s words are more of a “he’s gone, just not yet,” more than an “AJ Brown is staying with us.” It’s a mere formality before the trade is made official.

Roseman is a draft master

Roseman is an aggressive, clever, visionary general manager. He is always a step ahead. This draft was just another prove of that. If Roseman is at the helm, the Eagles will likely remain relevant in the NFL. He drafts way too good, but he also trades incredibly well in draft season.

“A name that has come up in trade talks is #Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte, who is entering the final year of his contract, according to multiple league sources,” Jordan Schultz revealed on X. “With Romeo Doubs coming in and the eventual AJ Brown trade, teams believe he could be available for the right price.”

Although Boutte had his share of prominence under Mike Vrabel last season, the arrival of new reinforcements could force him to look for a new team. If his departure is finalized, he would follow in the footsteps of Stefon Diggs, who is no longer a Patriots player.

Boutte proved to be an important weapon for the Patriots

During the 2025 NFL season, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte emerged as a highly efficient deep threat, hauling in 33 receptions on 46 targets for 551 receiving yards. Despite a limited number of targets, Boutte made a significant impact in the red zone and downfield, recording 6 touchdowns and an impressive 16.7 yards per reception.

His reliability was further highlighted by a strong 71.7% catch rate and a solid 71.8 PFF receiving grade, solidifying his role as a key playmaker in the Patriots’ offense.

The Patriots’ receiving corps

With the arrival of Romeo Doubs from the Green Bay Packers and while awaiting what may happen with A.J. Brown, these are the receivers Drake Maye currently has at his disposal heading into what’s next:

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that AJ Brown is likely getting traded from the Eagles to the Patriots. However, why are these teams waiting until June 1st? Well, it’s because the cap hit of trading AJ Brown is one of $40 million. As for the Patriots, it really doesn’t matter.

By waiting until June 1st, that salary cap charge can be split between this and next year, hence making it more friendly for the Eagles. Also, Schefter reported that they can wait without hesitation, as the team rather have capital for the 2027 and 2028 drafts than this one.

Will the Eagles go for a WR in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Philadelphia Eagles have fueled their wide receiver room by bringing in Elijah Moore, Dontayvion Wicks, and Hollywood Brown. All signs point to Devonta Smith getting the WR1 slot, but the new names aren’t household ones, so the 2026 NFL Draft could be a way of reinforcing the room further.

Rumors have been around the league stating that Omar Cooper Jr. could be very well in the radar of the Philadelphia Eagles. Cooper is a highly-touted prospect in this 2026 NFL Draft, and could be a huge addition to the Eagles roster thanks to his skillset.

The Eagles have a new scheme on offense

With the arrival of Sean Mannion as the new offensive coordinator, the Eagles will change a lot in comparison to last year. Mannion should be focusing on giving Saquon Barkley the ball to open the offense with play-action, where Jalen Hurts thrives.

Last season, the Eagles were very stagnant on offense, with all AJ Brown, Saquon Barkley and Devonta Smith having lesser years than expected. That included a dip in level of quarterback Jalen Hurts. Mannion now needs to galvanize the troops and exploit their talents.

“The Eagles begin their offseason workout program today and WR A.J. Brown is not expected to attend as he awaits clarity on his future, sources tell The Insiders,” Mike Garafolo said on X. “There’s nothing mandatory before June 1, when trade talks with the Patriots and perhaps others likely resume.“

For his part, ESPN‘s Adam Schefter stated that the Eagles are open to a potential trade, with the Patriots among the most interested in acquiring his services. Eventually, this storyline will reach a final decision in the near future.

The connection between A.J. Brown and Mike Vrabel

AJ Brown and the head coach’s bond was forged during their three successful seasons together with the Tennessee Titans, where Vrabel’s leadership helped Brown establish himself as one of the league’s premier deep threats. During their time in Tennessee, Brown was exceptionally productive, recording back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years and totaling 2,995 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns under Vrabel’s tenure.

Given the Patriots‘ aggressive roster building in 2026 and Vrabel’s public admiration for Brown’s competitive drive, a reunion in Foxborough would provide the elite offensive spark New England needs. Additionally, the departure of Stefon Diggs as the primary veteran receiver has left a gap for this team to fill heading into what’s next.

Which receivers remain in the Philadelphia Eagles?

The potential departure of A.J. Brown could deal a major blow to the Philadelphia Eagles receiving corps. The main figures right now are DeVonta Smith and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who recently played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Philadelphia has an opportunity to add talent

The biggest upcoming event is none other than the Draft, which will begin on Thursday in Pittsburgh. These will be the eight opportunities the Philadelphia Eagles will have to bring in young talent from college football:

• 1st Round: No. 23
• 2nd Round: No. 54
• 3rd Round: No. 68 (via Jets)
• 3rd Round: No. 98 (compensatory pick)
• 4th Round: No. 114 (via Falcons)
• 4th Round: No. 137 (compensatory pick)
• 5th Round: No. 178 (compensatory pick)
• 6th Round: No. 197 (via Falcons)

In recent months, the departure of A.J. Brown has been a persistent rumor, with the Rams and Patriots emerging as potential suitors. Nevertheless, it seems like New England has the best chance to land him.

Nick Foles, former quarterback of the Eagles, strongly believes it is only a matter of time before A.J. Brown is out of Philly, targeting the Patriots as the best fit for the wide receiver.

“I think New England would make a lot of sense because of his history [with coach Mike] Vrabel,” Foles said on Fox29. “I think that’s obvious, right? And I think he even said he grew up a Patriots fan, if I’m correct. So that would be like two-fold situation. But really because [G.M. Howie Roseman’s] not shutting it down. That’s a big thing. And he’s gonna have a lot of strategy behind it. He’s gonna get something he wants by — I think it’s going to come to a point where he realized last year was very difficult.”

June 1st: The key date for A.J. Brown

For many fans, it seems strange that A.J. Brown has not been traded yet despite the ongoing rumors. However, there is a reason for the delay, and it is entirely due to finances.

According to reports, the Eagles are waiting for June 1st to trade Brown to avoid a 2026 cap hit of over $40 million. A move after that date would result in a hit of less than $20 million.

Foles has stated that Brown wants out due to the ongoing struggles of the offense. While the club has a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, the wide receiver may feel he needs a fresh start elsewhere to truly shine.

“They have a first-year coordinator in Sean Mannion,” Foles said. “You don’t want to deal with, you know, what they dealt with last year with A.J. Now, A.J. had merit looking back. Like, why was he frustrated? Well, it was the concepts of the offense and how it was [run] with Kevin Patullo. Looking back, that’s maybe what the frustration was. Was it with Jalen Hurts? I don’t know. I’m not in the facility. No idea. But because of those things and different people I know around the league that know A.J. a little bit . . .what I’ve gathered is, [he] wants to be traded, but I also think like he wants to be traded to specific places.”

They were asked “do you want a rookie or a vet in the wide receiver room?” to which Thornton replied “a dog.” Rice went more in depth, saying “AJ Brown would be nice in the room, but we go get Carnell Tate or something, that’d be fire too.“

There’s been a topic of discussion that the Chiefs WR room is very young, so an experienced, proved weapon like Brown would be amazing. He would immediately become the number one option for Patrick Mahomes.

Rice has failed to establish himself as a true number one

Availability is the best ability, and between injuries and offseason shenanigans, Rice hasn’t been there for the Chiefs. He’s only played in 28 games out of 51 available. While he’s very talented, and unarguably a volume receiver, he is not on the level of AJ Brown, for instance.

Rice is a reliable option on the slot, but pairing him with a certified top five wideout in AJ Brown would be a massive problem, considering that Travis Kelce is also returning. However, AJ Brown’s future is up in the air and no formal information regarding a Chiefs move to get Brown has been reported.

The Chiefs offense needs revamping

The Chiefs ranked 20th in total offense last season, and that speaks about the regression the unit had. Changes were made. Matt Nagy was cleared off his role of offensive coordinator. Also, Eric Bieniemy was brought back to bring the best version out of Patrick Mahomes. Now, they only need a top wideout.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Eagles sent a 2026 5th-round pick, and a 2027 6th-round pick to the Packers for Wicks. Not only that, but Wicks will sign a one-year, $12.5 million extension with Philadelphia.

While Eagles GM Howie Roseman assured that AJ Brown still belongs to Philadelphia, Roseman is also known for being an aggressive negotiator, especially when the draft rolls around. That’s how he landed Brown in the first place.

Why don’t the Eagles want to lose AJ Brown?

Brown is an elite, cornerstone wide receiver in the middle of his prime. Arguably a top five wideout in the NFL, Brown was instrumental for the team’s Super Bowl run in 2024. However, things have gone sour between Brown, the team, and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

With Brown on the roster, the Eagles have won 73.5% of the games, bolstering a 50-18 record. While Roseman is reluctant to let him leave, he must be working on a plan B if push comes to shove. After all, Wicks is not good enough to replace him.

The Eagles might already have Brown’s replacement

Lining up in the other side of the field, it’s Devonta Smith. He is a very talented receiver, and has WR1 quality. Hence, if the Eagles need it, they could promote him to WR1, and get a haul for Brown and use it to strengthen other areas.

If Brown gets traded, the assets coming in should be of a top quality. Hence, there are options. Wicks coming in from the Packers, as well as the return of tight end Dallas Goedert, could be signs of what’s to come.

“I understand that there’s interest in the A.J. Brown story,” Howie Roseman said, via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philly. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a home under a rock. But my answer to any question on A.J. Brown is that A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles.

“From my perspective, anything you ask me about A.J. Brown, I’m going to go right back to that answer. But I understand the interest. I put on TV and I see that there’s interest. But my answer is A.J. Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.”

New faces in the Eagles receiving corps

Facing the potential departure of A.J. Brown to another team, the Philadelphia Eagles have made it clear they don’t want to weaken their wide receiver position. DeVonta Smith, the team’s main target, will be joined by several new faces.

Coming from the Kansas City Chiefs, Hollywood Brown joined Sirianni’s team on a one-year, $5 million deal. Additionally, Elijah Moore is another recent addition to the roster.

Eagles 2026 receiving corps so far

Key date for the Philadelphia Eagles

The June 1 deadline might be one key reason A.J. Brown remains an Eagle today. Trading him before this date would force Philadelphia to swallow a massive $43.5 million dead cap hit, a move that would effectively cripple their 2026 roster flexibility. However, by waiting until June 2, the team can split that financial burden over two years, reducing the immediate impact to just $16.4 million.

Potential destinations for A.J. Brown

Two teams have shown the most interest in acquiring Brown’s services. On one hand, the New England Patriots, who need a wide receiver following Stefon Diggs’ departure. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Rams, who already have established players at the position, could also be part of the conversation.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the Eagles signed Moore to a one-year deal, though financial terms remain undisclosed. His addition creates further uncertainty regarding the future of A.J. Brown in Philadelphia.

Reports suggest that Moore’s signing fuels speculation about Brown’s departure. However, it appears the Eagles will wait until after June 1 to move on from him to maximize salary cap flexibility.

Why June 1st is the key date

The primary reason a trade has not happened yet is financial. If the Eagles trade A.J. Brown before June 1, 2026, they would be forced to swallow a record-breaking $43.45 million dead cap hit immediately.

By waiting until after June 1, the Eagles can spread that cap hit over two seasons:

• 2026 Cap Hit: $16.35 million
• 2027 Cap Hit: $27.1 million

This maneuver would actually save the Eagles $7 million in cap space for the 2026 season, giving them the flexibility to finalize their roster.

The new-look Eagles WR depth chart

With Elijah Moore joining a room that already features DeVonta Smith and former Chiefs star Hollywood Brown, Philadelphia has built a contingency plan that allows them to move on from its WR1 without leaving Jalen Hurts empty-handed.

Darius Cooper, Johnny Wilson, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, and Danny Gray complete the list of wide receivers the Eagles have. Obviously, awaiting to see what will happen with A.J. Brown.