Patriots linked to another trade with NFC East team after A.J. Brown deal with Eagles

The New England Patriots have finally acquired A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles after months of rumors.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Patriots are sending a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Eagles for Brown, who will immediately step in as New England's No. 1 receiver and is a massive summer addition for the team as they look to make it back to the Super Bowl in 2026.

However, New England could still be in the trade market to bolster the roster ahead of the season, and an ESPN insider believes they are a sleeper team for an edge rusher on an NFC East team.

Patriots connected to Kayvon Thibodeaux trade with Giants

During an appearance on NFL Live last Friday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said that there is still trade interest in New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, with a Day 2 pick being the asking price.

Though it's still likely that Thibodeaux remains in New York for the 2026, Fowler mentions the Patriots as a possible landing spot for the former top-five pick if the Giants do end up dealing him.

"There has been trade interest, and the Giants want a quality Day 2 pick," Fowler said of Thibodeaux's trade situation. "A sleeper team could be the New England Patriots. Edge rusher is a position where they are thin."

Thibodeaux trade rumors have cooled down since the Giants decided not to trade him during the draft, but moving the Oregon product should still be on the table.

New York already has two high-quality starters at edge rusher in Brian Burns and 2025 No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter, so Thibodeaux feels like the odd man out.

A Day 2 pick for Thibodeaux is incredibly high, but if the Giants do want to trade him before the season, their asking price should come down. Though Thibodeaux is coming off a rough last two seasons filled with injuries, the 27-year-old still possesses a ton of promise and tallied 11.5 sacks in his last fully healthy season in 2023.

Though New England still has Harold Landry, signed Dre'Mont Jones in free agency, and spent a second-round pick on Gabe Jacas, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf could still look to add to the edge rusher room, and Thibodeaux would be the perfect acquisiton.

A pass-rushing rotation of Landry, Jones, Jacas, and Thibodeaux would be incredibly dynamic and give the Patriots even more juice on the defensive front.

With New England giving up a future first-round pick and more for Brown, the team may not want to risk giving up premier draft capital for Thibodeaux. However, if the Giants' asking price lessens, this trade makes sense for both sides.