A.J. Brown currently remains with the Philadelphia Eagles, but trade rumors continue to grow during the 2026 NFL offseason. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington gave a recent update on the situation. He described how the Jaylen Waddle deal impacts this one and also named the New England Patriots as an ideal destination.
Why the Patriots Are the Ideal Trade Destination for A.J. Brown
Brown is rumored to be on his way out of Philadelphia at some point prior to the 2026 NFL season. Some have been surprised that the Eagles still haven’t traded him, but Darlington broke down the situation with a recent update.
“The trade is more about when, not if. I still anticipate A.J. Brown getting moved out of Philly. Do not mistake the silence that we are currently feeling for being indifference or a lack of activity. Eventually, after June 1st, I still think this happens. The Jaylen Waddle situation only validates that further … The Patriots are the perfect fit, with his former coach in Tennessee Mike Vrabel being there,” explained Darlington.
“Do not mistake the silence that we are currently feeling around A.J. Brown for being indifference.”
—@JeffDarlington explains what the Jaylen Waddle trade means for A.J. Brown ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WNOWtV7ZWE
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 19, 2026
Darlington named the Patriots as Brown’s most likely landing spot in a potential trade to reunite with Vrabel. The two of them spent time together with the Titans, and considering New England is likely to be in the market for a wide receiver, the pairing seems to make sense.
Brown finished outside of the top 10 wide receivers last year in PFSN’s NFL WR Impact Metrics for the first time in his four seasons with the Eagles. He has reportedly been frustrated with his role in their offense recently, which has fueled the rumors that he could be traded during the offseason.
Darlington said that it’s simply a matter of when it happens, rather than a debate on if it will happen. He also outlined how Waddle’s recent trade to the Denver Broncos can serve as a template for a potential deal to acquire Brown.
The Patriots currently own the 31st and 95th picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is almost identical to what the Miami Dolphins received in return for Waddle. The Broncos sent them the 30th and 94th overall picks in the trade, which Darlington pointed out as essentially identical compensation for the two veteran stars.
Brown will be 29 years old when the 2026 season kicks off, while Waddle will be 27, and they both finished with the same 80.9 Impact Score last year. This demonstrates that a similar trade package is surely realistic if the Eagles make a deal.
