A.J. Brown makes a catch, as his trade situation has taken a new twist.
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Receiver A.J. Brown has seen a new complication in his trade situation.
The A.J. Brown trade situation is taking another turn, with the New England Patriots still positioned as a leading landing spot despite recent hesitation around a deal. The Los Angeles Rams reportedly got “scared off” from pursuing Brown, according to a report by Pro Football Talk, due to concerns over his medicals. But a new reading of the situation introduces another twist — one that could leave the Patriots as the clear favorite to land the three-time Pro Bowl receiver.
The bigger question now may not be why the Rams backed off, but whether the Patriots are suddenly positioned to capitalize if the situation moves again. Citing the PFT report, Patriots analyst Sara Marshall of Musket Fire wrote Thursday that “perhaps the Patriots should take that as a sign of their interest, too.”
Marshall noted concerns over Brown’s “history of knee injuries” have raised questions about whether trading for Brown would be worth the risk.
“At the same time, however, there are some who believe this is either the Eagles‘ way of scaring teams off from even inquiring about Brown,” Marshall wrote. “That could work in the Patriots’ favor, if they are still interested in reuniting Mike Vrabel with his former wide receiver, or this could put doubts in their minds instead.”
Brown was a second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2019, Vrabel’s second season as head coach there.
Will the Eagles Trade Brown at All?
If the Eagles, as Marshall wrote, are trying to scare teams away from inquiring about Brown, will the star receiver — who has topped 1,000 yards six times in his seven-year career — even be moved out of Philadelphia at all this offseason?
Speaking on ESPN Thursday morning, NFL insider Jeff Darlington said the answer will ultimately be yes.
“I still anticipate A.J. Brown getting moved out of Philly,” Darlington said in the ESPN interview. “Do not mistake the silence that we currently are feeling around A.J. Brown for being indifference or lack of activity. Eventually, after June 1, I still think this happens.”
Giving credence to Marshall’s belief that the current Brown trade situation works in the Patriots’ favor, Darlington also named New England as the most likely landing spot for Brown — especially after the Denver Broncos trade Tuesday to acquire former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
“The New England Patriots are the perfect fit, with his former coach in Tennessee, Mike Vrabel, being there,” Darlington said. “The compensation is almost exact: the Patriots hold the 31st pick overall and the 95th pick overall. The Denver Broncos getting Jaylen Waddle had to give up the 30th and 94th. So it’s almost apples to apples in terms of the trade comp.”
Brown to Patriots Now ‘Inevitable’
Darlington’s comments reflect what appears to be the consensus among NFL insiders — Brown will go to the Patriots in a trade after June 1, a date when the Eagles can drop half of Brown’s $40 million salary cap hit.
“Feels inevitable. Does an insider get something wrong sometimes? Yes,” wrote analyst Nick Cattles of the Locked on Patriots podcast Thursday. “But, it’s nearly unfathomable almost every single one has it wrong.”
But should the Patriots move forward on the Brown trade even after the PFT report on the 28-year-old’s knee injuries? According to Marshall, the Patriots must at least weigh the injury factor before committing to Brown, because what they find “could push them in another direction for a different receiver.”