The New England Patriots found their much-needed No. 1 wide receiver in A.J. Brown, but did they give up too much to get him?
On Monday, the Patriots sent a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Brown. While many have praised New England for landing one of the NFL’s most talented wideouts, others — including NBC Sports Boston’s own Phil Perry — have labeled the deal an “overpay.”
Those skeptical about the trade cite Brown’s knee issues, age (29), declining production, and off-field drama as reasons for concern. While the three-time Pro Bowler should be an elite weapon for third-year quarterback Drake Maye, there’s enough from his time in Philly to leave some wondering whether a first-rounder was too steep a price.
On the latest edition of the Next Pats Podcast, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer joined Perry to share Philly’s perspective on the deal.
“At the time of the combine, I was told by someone kind of close to the Patriots that they were seeing A.J. Brown as only worth a third-rounder,” McLane said. “So that also tells you how far that they came. Now, I think that was just a negotiating ploy and posturing as well. …
“So, is a 2028 first-rounder along with a fifth in 2027 meeting somewhere in the middle? Possibly. I do think the fact that you’ve heard, ‘This is a good deal for the Eagles, this is a good deal for the Patriots,’ that it’s essentially kind of a fair deal.”
It’s hard to believe a third-rounder would have been enough to outbid other receiver-needy teams for Brown. However, during the offseason, it became clear that the Patriots were the lone team aggressively pursuing the Super Bowl champion. The Los Angeles Rams were the only other team directly linked to Brown before they backed out, reportedly over concerns with his medicals.
Despite what may have been an overspend, Perry appreciates New England’s willingness to get uncomfortable.
“The things that I like about this trade are that the Patriots are showing real urgency here. This is something I thought was lacking from the Patriots organization for a number of years. Now, in Mike Vrabel’s second offseason, they go out and they give up a real asset,” Perry said.
“By giving (a first-round pick) away, you’re in win-now mode. You’re operating like the Los Angeles Rams. So, I think there are positives to that.”
If Brown is at his best, the Patriots’ offense could be scary for at least the next couple of years. But by the time the 2028 draft comes around, and New England doesn’t have a first-round pick, it could be a tricky situation.
“You have to continue to project out, and you have to continue to look forward and say, ‘What’s our team going to look like two years from now?'” Perry said. “Drake Maye might be on a salary that pays him close to $70 million a year. Christian Gonzalez might be on a contract that pays him $35 million a year. …
Those cost-controlled pieces at premium positions, especially the first-round picks, those matter. … You gave up a real chip, you gave up a real asset. That’s why I say it’s a little bit of an overpay.”
Also in the new Next Pats episode:
- How will Josh McDaniels use A.J. Brown?
- Answering your mailbag questions.
