Patriots reportedly unwilling to meet Eagles' hefty asking price for A.J. Brown trade

While there are several franchises interested in acquiring Philadelphia Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown in the summer, the New England Patriots appear to possess an edge over the rest of the competition.

The consensus is that if the Eagles trade Brown, the Patriots will be on the opposite end of a blockbuster transaction. That said, the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard recently reported that New England appears unwilling to meet the Eagles’ hefty asking price for a trade centered on Brown.

“There's been a lot of speculation (about the Eagles' asking price), a first and a second or a first and a third," Bedard said on NBC Sports Boston last on Apr. 2. "The Patriots, my understanding is, are around second-round draft pick compensation."

If the Patriots refuse to dangle a first-round pick in front of Philadelphia while discussing a potential trade for Brown, it’ll be challenging for the franchise to partner with the Eagles to complete a beneficial wide receiver deal. 

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the three-time Pro Bowl WR is worth a first-round pick. The Ole Miss product has been a star-studded No. 1 wide receiver since entering the league in 2019, and his production indicates that, despite being a distraction at times, he’s a unique talent who frequently uses his fluidity and physical gifts to take over games.

Brown has recorded 8,029 receiving yards and 56 touchdowns to begin his NFL career (Tennessee Titans and Eagles). Bedard’s report is likely the last thing Patriots fans wanted to hear in mid-April.

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