Eagles ship A.J. Brown to Patriots—Hurts faces sharper test

A long-awaited A.J. Brown trade is finally completed, sending the Eagles’ top target to the New England Patriots. The move reshuffles New England’s receiving group around Drake Maye, while Philadelphia must now rebuild its passing attack around Jalen Hurts—at

For weeks, the A.J. Brown trade had been talked about like a certainty. Then the day arrived—overlapping with a blockbuster June 1 move that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams—and Philadelphia finally finished what its salary-cap calculations kept delaying.

The Eagles and New England completed the long-awaited swap by sending Brown to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft and a first-rounder in 2028.

It is the second major trade of the offseason to break wide open the NFL’s summer plans—and it comes with a clear consequence for Philadelphia: Jalen Hurts is losing his primary target for much of the past four seasons, and the Eagles’ receiving corps has to be rebuilt at speed.

The Brown deal also changes the math in New England, where Drake Maye’s development is about to be tested with a weapon described as a threat at every level of the field.

WINNERS

A.J. Brown
Brown’s departure from Philadelphia reflects a sense that the relationship had reached its limit. In the Eagles’ offense, he finished with 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven TDs in his least productive season. The reporting around the move points to frustration with the offensive direction. or lack of it. and a desire for a more prominent role.

With Brown in New England, the expectation is that his numbers jump once he settles into an “alpha dog” role with a quarterback identified as a more advanced passer than Hurts—Drake Maye.

Drake Maye
Heading into his third season, Maye’s supporting cast upgrades again.

In 2024, Maye’s top target was tight end Hunter Henry. Last season, the most targeted wideout was the veteran Stefon Diggs. Brown now becomes the most talented receiver Maye has had available.

The case for the move is straightforward: Brown adds a deep-field threat and can create opportunities for New England’s other pass catchers. With Maye paired with a passing attack that ranked fourth in the league last season, the Patriots could be set up to climb another rung in their passing game.

Mike Vrabel
New England coach Mike Vrabel brings an added layer to the moment. Brown began his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans in 2019 and played his first three seasons there under Vrabel.

At this year’s NFL scouting combine, Vrabel described the connection in a direct, personal way when asked about his bond with Brown:

“It has meant a lot. I’ve watched him grow. I’ve watched him mature. I’m proud of him, proud of the father that he is. I’m proud of the husband. That has nothing to do with where he plays or where he played. Those are the things that are important. We reach out and text each other during the good things that happen to each other. Sometimes things don’t go so well for the people that you’re close with, and you text for those as well. It’s a two-way street of support and reminders of what got us to where we are.”.

Vrabel, it’s also reported, gets at least temporary relief from ongoing questions tied to his affiliation with Dianna Russini (formerly the NFL insider for The Athletic), which he’s been facing for more than a month.

DeVonta Smith
In Philadelphia, DeVonta Smith is the most obvious beneficiary from Brown’s exit. After being “1A” to Brown in recent years, Smith is expected to become the Eagles’ nominal No. 1 receiver.

At the same time, the Eagles’ approach could look more distributed—similar to a spread-the-wealth concept credited with Green Bay—rather than a simple one-receiver focus.

Jalen Hurts
Hurts becomes both the problem and the focal point.

The Eagles are down a primary target for most of the past four seasons, but the move also removes a formerly close friend, with the relationship described as having apparently run its course.

Brown’s 2025 statistical production may be harder to replace than his overall impact. The Eagles’ receiving group, though, is already in motion: first-rounder Makai Lemon and veteran acquisitions Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks join Smith to try to fill the gap.

LOSERS

Jalen Hurts
Pressure is the word that hangs over Hurts, and the deal makes it heavier.

The reporting frames his situation as a reality that has followed him for years, going back to college. But with Brown leaving—described as popular in the Eagles’ locker room—the spotlight brightens on whether Hurts can get Philadelphia’s offense back to where it was before 2025.

The Eagles are also adjusting to rookie coordinator Sean Mannion. If the offense can’t stabilize quickly. the consequences land directly on the quarterback and on the people controlling roster decisions. The reporting suggests that if it goes sideways. fans will push EVP/GM Howie Roseman to target one of the “fancy QBs” expected to be available in next year’s draft.

Stefon Diggs
Diggs enters this trade story as the clearest example of a ripple effect.

The Patriots had already moved him after one season into a three-year, $63.5 million deal he signed in 2025. The team followed that decision by signing Romeo Doubs—described as less accomplished than Diggs—to a four-year, $68 million pact, before acquiring Brown and his contract.

Brown’s deal is described as a three-year, $96 million extension that takes effect in 2027. For Diggs, even with his legal issues reported as resolved, he is still out of a job.

Romeo Doubs
Doubs’ new contract came with an assumption about targets. After getting his payday in March, he seemed positioned to receive the heaviest share of the offense’s attention.

That outlook changes with Brown’s arrival. The reporting expects Doubs to revert toward the secondary and tertiary role he typically held in Green Bay, where he averaged slightly more than 50 catches during his first four seasons.

A.J. Brown trade Philadelphia Eagles New England Patriots Jalen Hurts Drake Maye Mike Vrabel DeVonta Smith Stefon Diggs Romeo Doubs Makai Lemon Hollywood Brown Dontayvion Wicks Sean Mannion Howie Roseman NFL offseason