‘You’re a fool… this is how Howie works’ – Eagles GM is pulling the strings on Patriots, other teams for A.J. Brown trade
The trade of star receiver A.J. Brown from Philadelphia to the New England Patriots was expected to be a given. NFL Insider James Palmer tells Kay Adams what’s going on behind the scenes ahead of June 1.
It’s been assumed for many months the Philadelphia Eagles would trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots after June 1, but as that date gets closer, there’s been more and more chatter about how the Patriots might not be the only trade partner for general manager Howie Roseman.
A post-June 1 trade has always been what makes the most sense for a Brown trade, so Philadelphia can spread out the salary cap implications on Brown’s contract. The Eagles then spent their first two draft picks in April on pass catchers: WR Makai Lemon at 20 overall, and TE Eli Stowers at 54 overall. The plan to trade away the All-Pro WR is in place.
The Patriots drama filled spring could get even whackier if Roseman finds a better offer than reuniting Brown with his former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. James Palmer was asked by Kay Adams about recent reports of Brown heading back to the AFC South to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Latest A.J. Brown trade rumors could be Howie Roseman at his best
“I’ll say this: nothing can be put in place,” Palmer said. “This isn’t like a release where you can designate a guy post June 1. With trades, it has to happen. It has to become official after June 1. Anything right now is just a wink and a nod. We all know Howie Roseman. We know how Howie works.”
Palmer references how Roseman always gets the most out of any leverage he may have. If he knows the Patriots have been planning for 2026 and beyond with A.J. Brown, he knows he can get more out of them. Howie Roseman probably gets the every bit of toothpaste he can out of the tube before trashing it.
Could Howie be working more leverage tactics with the Jaguars, or other teams? That’s where Palmer’s mind is.
“(Philadelphia and New England) had negotiations, they haven’t really had any, to my understanding, recently, but there’s been some offers. There’s been some talk with the Pats, for sure, but if you think Howie Roseman, for a second, is not going to be calling every other team, not just taking calls, but making calls to other teams on AJ Brown, you’re a fool. This is the way Howie works. He’s going to try to get other teams involved, he’s going to try to see what the best options he can get for himself are.”
How likely are the Jaguars to be a trade fit for the Eagles?
One of those teams reported recently is the Jaguars. Second year head coach and GM combo of Liam Coen and James Gladstone had a big first year, and could be looking to be extra aggressive. Add the mystery about former Jags first round pick receiver Brian Thomas Jr. into the mix, and who knows what could happen.
“I think Jacksonville, there’s been, like, is Brian Thomas Jr. available? He’s not available. Is he available?” Palmer sets up: “I’ve heard both behind closed doors, out in the open. Are they going to make some moves in terms of how that wide receiver room is built? If Travis Hunter is not going to be playing receiver as much, like, do you want to go and make a big splash.”
“James Gladstone down there is like, he’s kind of like (LA Rams GM) Les Sneed, where you have to have him sit on his hands. He’s always looking to do something big. He’s always looking to try to make a move. At (last season’s trade) deadline he was trying to make some things happen, and I mean big things. They didn’t happen, (but) I wouldn’t put anything past James Gladstone down there in Jacksonville.”
Palmer’s timeline on an A.J. Brown trade
Palmer points out to a befuddled Kay Adams that Roseman has no hard timetable on moving Brown, but does expect him to play in a different uniform at the start of the season.
“(Roseman) doesn’t have to do a deal at June I, right? (Trade) deadlines are usually by money, where certain things kick in. Those don’t exist really within this contract, so he can kind of give it a couple weeks and maybe a month or two and see how this goes.”
“I do think what (the Eagles) noticed last year is that the frustrations and what was going on was starting to finally make its way onto the playing field, and that’s when things get a little bit different in terms of where you are with a player that’s disgruntled.”