A.J. Brown’s trade value paints Howie Roseman in an interesting light compared to moves of the past

Just four years after striking an NFL Draft day trade for A.J. Brown, the Philadelphia Eagles traded him away.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) reacts after failing to make a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) reacts after failing to make a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The long-awaited A.J. Brown trade away from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots is finally done. They had to wait until after 4:00 P.M. ET to make it official due to the contract structure.

The haul itself is decent for the Eagles, but it’s less than what general manager Howie Roseman traded for Brown during the NFL Draft, sending picks No. 18 and 101 for the talented receiver.

A.J. Brown goes for less than many star receivers

There isn’t another way to paint it: Roseman got somewhat fleeced here. While Brown is set to enter his age 29 season, he was a three-time Pro Bowl player, twice with the Eagles, along with being a three-time second-team All-Pro. When you compare what Brown fetched compared to trades of the past few years, it’s relatively comparable.

YearTeamAssets AcquiredAssets Sent
2020Buffalo BillsStefon Diggs1st, 5th, 6th, 2021 4th
2022Las Vegas RaidersDavante Adams2022 1st, 2022 2nd
2022Miami DolphinsTyreek Hill2022 1st, 2022 2nd, 2022 4th, 2023 4th, 2023 6th
2022Philadelphia EaglesA.J. Brown18th and 101st overall (Draft Day trade)
2022Arizona CardinalsHollywood Brown, 100th overall23rd overall (Draft Day trade)
2022Chicago BearsChase Claypool2023 2nd (ended up being 32nd overall)
2024Houston TexansStefon Diggs, 2024 6th, 2025 5th2025 2nd
2025Pittsburgh SteelersD.K. Metcalf, 2025 6th2025 2nd, 2025 7th
2025Dallas CowboysGeorge Pickens, 2027 6th2026 3rd, 2027 5th
2026Buffalo BillsD.J. Moore, 2026 5th2026 2nd
2026Denver BroncosJaylen Waddle, 2026 4th2026 2st, 2026 3rd, 2026 4th
2026New England PatriotsA.J. Brown2027 5th, 2028 1st

Simply put, Brown is one of the best receivers in the game, and the Eagles didn’t get much back for him. It’s especially concerning that the first-round pick is two years out, and those are often devalued on the trade market.

Now, the Eagles were in a tough spot with Brown wanting out and his contract being a tough one. Even so, getting such a small return, even though it’s still sizable with a first-round pick included, is a frustrating one for the Eagles. They will be fine at wide receiver with DeVonta Smith moving into the No. 1 role, but a larger return would have been preferred for Brown.

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