Executive vice president of player development Eliot Wolf
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STANFORD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: Executive vice president of player development Eliot Wolf of the New England Patriots looks on before taking a team photo prior to Super Bowl LX at Stanford Stadium on February 07, 2026 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots may have some clarity on the A.J. Brown situation according to a recent interview with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Florio set a timeline for a potential Brown trade during his appearance on the Patriots Talk podcast with Tom E. Curran
Brown to the Patriots has been the subject throughout the entire offseason. It has remained one of the biggest storylines across the entire league, and it has generated a ton of buzz throughout the past couple of months. Now, we may have a date as to when the Patriots-Brown connection may occur. Florio weighed in on this topic on Tuesday.
“I had a conversation with somebody who covers the Eagles, and this person insisted that the Eagles have to trade A.J. Brown before next year.If they make the move next year, it’s going to wreak havoc on their salary cap.People around the league are saying a trade will happen on or after June 2nd, with A.J. Brown most likely being traded to the New England Patriots.”
New England Patriots Have Been Linked To Brown
The Patriots and Brown have been connected to one another throughout the course of the past couple of weeks. Most recently, the wide receiver was seen working with former teammate Kevin Byard in offseason training. The two know each other from their times with the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles. The workout pictures generated a ton of buzz.
Coach Mike Vrabel has been complimentary of Brown over the past couple of months. Vrabel even indicated that he and Brown still stay in touch. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has previously said that he would be open to making some sort of deal before. However, it appears that the Eagles might be playing the waiting game.
Why June 1 Matters To New England Patriots
The June 1 date is significant as it relates to Brown. If they were to trade him before June 1, the Philadelphia Eagles would face a $43.5 million dead cap hit in 2026. This would increase his current amount by over $20 million. This significantly hampers any sort of ability to get a trade done during the off-season.
However, the Eagles could be in much better shape with a post-June 1 trade. The salary cap hit drops to approximately $16.35 million for the 2026 season. The dead money is a key year. The remaining $27.2 million of that money would be pushed to the 2027 salary cap. This means that the Eagles would save around $7 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season.
It makes sense that a deal would be pushed to after the June 1 deadline. Both teams will also have a better idea of how their roster shapes by then. The Patriots could grab a younger wide receiver in the draft, or they could focus on the defensive side of the ball. Either way, they would be able to project their roster more accurately if they waited until after June 1.
This tidbit from Florio is certainly something to monitor. The Patriots and Brown almost seem like a perfect match at this stage. The only thing that needs to be worked out now is the details. From a football perspective, Brown is exactly what the Patriots needed in the wide receiver room. He would give them a top option and replace the findings in the process. The playmaker is also somebody that the organization can build around for the future.
Whatever the case may be, Brown’s status will be worth watching throughout the next couple of months.