The Philadelphia Eagles have remained firm in their stance that A.J. Brown is part of their future, but that has not stopped trade speculation from swirling. Multiple suitors emerged as teams explored potential deals earlier this offseason.
While the New England Patriots drew significant attention due to their need at wide receiver, a recent insider report suggests another NFC contender, the Los Angeles Rams, came much closer to actually landing the Super Bowl champion pass catcher.
Why the Rams Pushed Harder for A.J. Brown Than the Patriots
On “Good Morning Football,” Mike Garafolo shed light on how discussions unfolded and which team nearly got a deal across the finish line.
“It was closer to getting done at one point with the Rams than it was with the Patriots. Patriots were very reluctant to come off to meet the asking price of a first-round pick, plus, especially with that first-round pick, being in 2027.”
That detail underscores how serious Los Angeles was about adding a true No. 1 receiver, while also highlighting New England’s hesitation to meet Philadelphia’s demands. The Eagles were reportedly seeking a future-focused return, with an emphasis on a 2027 first-round pick, a draft class many teams already view as deeper and more valuable.
Garafolo also explained that timing played a major role in why a deal never materialized earlier in the offseason.
“There was a run at this at the start of the league year in March, but that would have incurred an enormous salary cap hit for the Eagles in 2026. If they wait until after June 1st, that salary cap pick can then be pushed off into 2027. Howie Roseman knew that if he made the deal in March, it was going to be such a massive cap hit that, here was my price, I’m not coming off my price, because look at what I have to take on financially.”
That approach aligns with how Roseman typically operates. Garafolo added context to that mindset as well.
.@MikeGarafolo on Eliot Wolf’s latest comments about A.J. Brown🧠 pic.twitter.com/oS4kvuMKla
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 14, 2026
“The other thing with Howie is, when he’s negotiating with teams, and he says, ‘Here’s the price.’ He then doesn’t want to lower it, because future negotiations are gonna be affected by that, and you say, ‘Oh, well, he came off that price, he’s gonna come off this one.’ So, it almost felt like it didn’t happen in March. We’ll see you again in June.”
Patriots Remain Interested in Brown but Face Obstacles
Even though the Rams came closer, the Patriots have not fully exited the conversation. Head coach Mike Vrabel revealed the team is open to improving its roster in any way possible, especially after reshaping its receiver room this offseason.
New England moved on from Stefon Diggs and brought in Romeo Doubs, but the group still lacks a proven top-tier option. That is where Brown continues to make sense.
In 2025, he posted a PFSN NFL WR Impact Score of 80.9 with a B- grade, ranking No. 21 among wide receivers with 78 catches on 121 targets across 15 games. That level of production would immediately elevate any passing attack.
Still, financial and draft capital hurdles remain. As Garafolo noted, the Patriots were unwilling to meet the Eagles’ asking price, which centered on future assets.
“The Patriots weren’t willing to go there, so, again, now the 2026 picks are gonna be out the window come June, obviously, the draft will be over, so we’ll see what winds up happening when we get to that round.”
There is also the possibility that talks resurface once the calendar flips. Garafolo pointed to the fluid nature of negotiations and the openness of New England’s front office.
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“And what Eliot Wolf said, which is basically just trying to say, ‘Hey we’re open to anything.’ That’s the blanket statement that can’t get you in trouble, period. But it’s also in line with what we’re talking about, that this could circle back come June for the Eagles, the Patriots.”
For now, Brown remains in midnight green, but the interest is there. With the Rams pushing harder than expected and the Patriots still lurking, this may not be settled until later in the offseason.
