For Smith, “I just go out there and do my job,” as he told Zach Berman of The Athletic. That’s a rather stoic stance in the face of a possible upgrade in his usage and production. Having said that, it just speaks volumes of Smith’s professionalism.

Brown has always been the WR1 of the Eagles, and it’s been clear DeVonta Smith is a premium WR2 with clear WR1 talent. For Smith, Brown leaving could actually mean finally untapping his full potential. In the long run, this could mean more money as his numbers sky-rocket.

Smith would have no competition to be WR1 without Brown

The Philadelphia Eagles have brought receivers like Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown, who are good wideouts, but not ones in Smith’s level. The Eagles also addressed the position in the NFL Draft.

The Eagles selected USC’s Makai Lemon in the first round of the draft, but Lemon is unproved in the NFL, and Smith is an absolute baller. Lemon could become a premium WR2, but first he must prove he is ready.

The Eagles have a new offensive coordinator

The Eagles changed their playcaller for this upcoming season. New OC Sean Mannion should bring a change in the offensive scheme of the Eagles. Smith could still do what he does best, but Lemon and Brown are very different from each other.

If Brown leaves, Mannion would have to change stuff in order for Lemon to actually deliver. Lemon is more of a yards after catch, medium-route threat. Brown is more of a physically imposing, outside-of-the-numbers kind of threat.

When the Eagles traded up to select Makai Lemon, many believed the move signaled a major change. By drafting a top-tier wide receiver, the club essentially indicated that A.J. Brown’s tenure in Philly may be coming to an end.

Now, Lemon has added fuel to those speculations. The rookie has spoken openly about his relationship with DeVonta Smith, notably leaving A.J. Brown out of the conversation and suggesting that Smith is poised to become the new WR1 in Philadelphia.

“Yeah, super humble guy, super chill, super calm, kind of my type of vibe,” Makai Lemon said about DeVonta Smith, via NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com. “So I feel like me and him clicked on those things. When you step on the field, he’s already got that dog mentality. So I think me and him are going to click well, definitely.”

The 2026 NFL Draft was key to A.J. Brown’s future

A.J. Brown’s arrival in New England appears to be a deal done, not only because the Eagles selected a receiver in the first round but also because of the Patriots’ draft strategy.

Throughout the seven rounds, the Patriots did not select a single wide receiver. Given this lack of movement at the position and the recent departure of Stefon Siggs, it appears that a trade for Brown may simply be a matter of time.

The deal is expected to be finalized after June 1, when the salary cap hit would be significantly less burdensome for the Eagles. However, no deal is official yet, and Philadelphia could still opt to trade him elsewhere, leaving New England without their targeted WR1.

A.J. Brown needs a fresh start

While A.J. Brown’s tenure with the Eagles cannot be considered a disappointment, his recent seasons have lacked the dominant form he initially displayed with the NFC East club.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel knows Brown well from their time together with the Titans. With a veteran offensive coordinator like Josh McDaniels, Brown could potentially regain his elite form and shine once again in New England.

“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.

Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed the price to pay for Greenard: “The Vikings have been adamant about getting a premium Day 2 pick for Greenard. Philadelphia holds pick Nos. 54, 68 and 98 on Day 2 this year.”

Although there is still no final resolution on the matter, adding the linebacker to its roster could be very significant for Philadelphia. What will ultimately be the destination of this talented player ahead of the next season?

Greenard’s 2025 season

During the 2025 NFL season, Jonathan Greenard continued to be a vital part of the Minnesota Vikings‘ defense, appearing in 12 games. He recorded 38 total tackles (19 solo and 19 assisted) and accounted for 3.0 sacks, contributing to a total loss of 19.5 yards for opposing offenses.

Greenard also showcased his ability to disrupt plays by forcing one fumble and recording 3 pass deflections. Despite dealing with a shoulder injury towards the end of the campaign, his efficiency remained high, earning a 74.2 overall defensive grade from PFF, which ranked him among the top edge defenders in the league.

Eagles’ options at the position

In 2026, the Eagles will have a revamped linebacker corps anchored by the standout duo of Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell. Following the departure of Nakobe Dean to the Raiders, the unit has integrated key young talents like Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr., who bring a necessary blend of instincts and sideline-to-sideline speed.

Under Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme, this rotation is further bolstered by versatile edge threats like Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt, along with key additions Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, creating a deep group capable of high-level pressure and effective coverage.

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.”

Per Jordan Schultz, the Eagles, Rams, and Texans gave Douglas top-30 visits. He also reported that the Broncos had him for a private workout. Joining all of those teams in the Caleb Douglas sweepstakes, Schultz reported that the Vikings and Saints also had a workout with him, and the Cardinals scheduled a visit for next week.

While not a top-tier wideout prospect, Douglas has gathered attention as a possible Day 2 pick. After all, his size is huge and teams can see him as a vertical/end zone threat. Douglas stands at 6’4″, weighing 206 lbs.

Caleb Douglas is good, but with a glaring flaw

A star that led the Texas Tech Red Raiders in yards (846) and touchdowns (7), Douglas should have a higher draft projection, but he had one worrisome weakness during his college days: drops.

The Eagles, Rams, and Texans are teams that have talent in their WR rooms, so drops will really harm you in the pecking order. Douglas had seven drops in 2025. As for the Broncos, Sean Payton won’t give too much looks to an unreliable wideout.

Caleb Douglas’ NFL comp

Douglas’ frame and strengths line up with his weakness to make a really accurate comp. Whether he ends up being a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft or not, he is very similar to Quentin Johnston.

Johnston is also a vertical, tall threat who struggles with drops, but also has quite some upside when able to actually catch the ball. If Douglas manages to correct that flaw, he could become an important piece on any offense he lands on.

Wicks was a useful guy, hence why the Eagles traded for him amid all the AJ Brown saga. Still, the Packers saw no issues in letting him go. They also lost Romeo Doubs this offseason, so it’s quite a shakeup in the WR room.

Christian Watson is set to be the WR1 of the team. Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden come as the next alternatives. The Packers also have Will Sheppard, Savion Williams, Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, Isaiah Neyor, and Jakobie Keeney-James on the roster.

The Packers must pray Christian Watson stays healthy

The talk around the Packers’ wideouts is that they are always filled with B+ players, not playmakers. The one that could go to that tier is Christian Watson. However, he is consistently injured. Hence, if Watson is healthy, they have a gamechanger, but having him available has been an issue.

Many pressure is also on Matthew Golden too. Golden was a first round pick, so the expectations for him is quite big. He must deliver and take a step forward on this offense if the Packers want a top-tier offense in the NFL.

A healthy Packers offense is a problem

If Watson is healthy, and Golden takes a leap, the Packers should be a big-time offense. Jordan Love is an above average quarterback, and Josh Jacobs is a top-tier running back in the NFL. All this lined up with the playcalling of head coach Matt LaFleur.

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.