Patriots Predicted to Make Trade With Eagles, But Not for A.J. Brown

The deal would involve the teams swapping first-round picks, but the star wide receiver is not part of the reported transaction.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:07am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the overlapping perspectives and competing interests of NFL teams and players during the draft process, rendered in muted earth tones.A cubist interpretation of the complex negotiations and strategic maneuvering between NFL teams during the draft season.Philadelphia Today

According to NFL writer Josh Edwards, the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles are expected to make a trade during the upcoming draft, but it will not involve star wide receiver A.J. Brown. The proposed deal would see the Eagles send their 23rd overall pick to the Patriots in exchange for New England's 31st pick and some additional undisclosed terms, allowing the Patriots to select offensive tackle Max Iheanachor from Arizona State.

Why it matters

While a trade between the two teams has generated significant speculation due to the Patriots' need for offensive weapons and the Eagles' surplus of talent at wide receiver, this particular deal does not involve Brown. The timing of any potential Brown trade is also complicated by the Eagles' salary cap situation, as they would face a significantly lower dead cap hit if they waited until after June 1 to move the star wideout.

The details

In his mock draft, Edwards suggested the Patriots would trade up from the 31st pick to the 23rd pick held by the Eagles, allowing them to select Iheanachor, a right tackle prospect. The writer noted that Iheanachor had a viral clip of him being coached aggressively by Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, which is common practice among defensive coaches.

  • The proposed trade would take place during the 2023 NFL Draft.
  • If the Eagles were to trade A.J. Brown, they would face a $43 million dead cap hit if it occurred before June 1, but only a $16 million hit if it happened after that date.

The players

A.J. Brown

A star wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Max Iheanachor

An offensive tackle prospect from Arizona State University who the Patriots are reportedly interested in drafting.

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What they’re saying

“There was a viral clip going around of Mike Vrabel inciting Max Iheanachor to put his hands on him (which is more common than fans may expect, especially among defensive coaches).”

— Josh Edwards, NFL Writer

What’s next

If the trade between the Patriots and Eagles goes through as reported, it will be interesting to see if the two teams revisit discussions about a potential A.J. Brown trade after the draft, though any deal involving the star receiver is unlikely to happen before June 1 due to the Eagles' salary cap situation.

The takeaway

While the prospect of a trade between the Patriots and Eagles has generated significant buzz this offseason, this particular deal does not involve the high-profile move of A.J. Brown. Instead, it represents a more routine draft-day trade between the two teams, highlighting the complexity of the Browns situation and the Patriots' ongoing search for offensive line help.