Patriots A.j. Brown Trade Rumors Point to 2028 First-Round Pick
Patriots A.j. Brown trade rumors now point to a June 1 deal, with Adam Schefter saying he expects the Eagles and Patriots to get it done then. He also said the price should include a future first-round pick, with 2028 his best guess. That pushes the conversation past speculation and toward the draft capital Philadelphia may demand.
Adam Schefter on June 1
“I expect that this trade will come together on June 1st,” Schefter said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. He framed the deal as workable rather than complicated, adding that the Eagles are open to moving Brown and the Patriots want him.
He then laid out the return he believes Philadelphia would seek. “It’s not gonna be hard to get done. The Eagles are open to moving him, the Patriots want him, and I believe in the end it will involve a future first-round draft pick. My guess is 2028 — one in 2028. But, let’s see what the two sides finally figure out there in the end.”
Eagles and Patriots leverage
That is the crux of the report: Brown is the player, but the draft pick is the currency. A future first-rounder would change how both sides approach the rest of their offseason, because the return being discussed is not a throw-in or a mid-round sweetener. It is the kind of pick teams usually treat as roster-shaping capital.
The 2028 guess also stands out because most attention had centered on the 2027 NFL Draft. Schefter’s read moved the discussion further out, suggesting the Patriots could part with a pick that does not arrive until the next cycle after that.
What the price signals
The story first surfaced on 4/28/26, and Schefter’s latest comment gave it a firmer frame. He did not say the deal was done. He said he expects it to come together on June 1 and believes the final package will include a first-round selection.
For readers following the Patriots angle, the immediate takeaway is simple: the reported ask is no longer just about Brown’s name. It is about whether New England is willing to move a 2028 first-round pick to finish a trade Philadelphia appears open to making.
