NFL executives believe it’s only a matter of time before New England Patriots end the offseason’s biggest talking point

NFL executives believe that the New England Patriots’ trade for star wide receiver A.J. Brown is already a done deal and would happen post-2026 draft.

AJ Schulte — College Football Trending News Writer
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Dec 28, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) prepares to catch a pass against Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium.
Dec 28, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) prepares to catch a pass against Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Throughout the entire NFL offseason, perhaps no news has generated more discussion than the A.J. Brown saga. The star wide receiver has had his issues with the Philadelphia Eagles (and their quarterback), and his trade saga has been a hot topic. No team has been linked more to acquiring Brown than the New England Patriots. The Los Angeles Rams briefly flirted with the idea, but the Patriots have remained at the forefront of the discussion.

So much so, in fact, that NFL executives believe that Brown becoming a Patriot is only a matter of time.

A.J. Brown a New England Patriot in all but name?

The Athletic’s Mike Sando reported that several anonymous NFL executives believe A.J. Brown will be traded to the New England Patriots in June. Sando quoted one executive who said it “seems just a matter of waiting until June 1 passes for Philly to trade A.J. Brown”.

The salary cap implications clear up for the Eagles post-June 1st. If the Eagles traded Brown before June 1st, they would incur a massive $43,515,506 dead cap hit, which would be one of the largest dead cap hits in NFL history. Much like the Micah Parsons deal last year (when he was traded essentially right after the preseason), the Eagles would be better off waiting until the summer.

Brown would be the immediate WR1 for the Patriots, and would give the offense a clear top option to build around. As talented as Romeo Doubs is, he’s ideally a complementary WR2. The connection to Mike Vrabel plays a part, but Brown would undoubtedly be happier with an upgrade at quarterback.

In the event executives are right that this is a done deal, it will be interesting to see how the Patriots handle the 2026 NFL Draft. If they don’t spend a top pick on a wide receiver, it seems like a guarantee they pull the trigger. If not, this saga could continue to unfold.