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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 10: Christian Gonzalez #6 of the New England Patriots tackles A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The second of two blockbuster NFL trades was finalized on Monday, June 1 when the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to parameters that sends wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that the Eagles sent Brown to the Patriots for a return of “a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick that is the better of New England’s two fifths.
It’s a trade that comes with little surprise to anyone who followed the parties involved this offseason. It’s a deal that heavily involves New England’s head coach, Mike Vrabel. Brown entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with the Tennessee Titans, which had Vrabel as its head coach at the time.
A.J. Brown trade rife with claims of collusion, tabloid drama
Vrabel’s connection to this trade also goes beyond on-field relationships. In a much-publicized ordeal, Vrabel was photographed in a compromising embrace/situation with Dianna Russini, formerly an NFL insider with The Athletic. In the fallout of the believed years-long affair that dated back to Vrabel’s time with the Titans, Russini stepped down, while Vrabel gave an awkward press conference to explain his absence during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Part of the Vrabel-Russini saga included claims of collusion that paved the way for the Patriots to rise above all other teams in a bid to land Brown. It was Russini whose reporting started that initial fire, which reverberates with renewed suspicion now that the rumored trade’s in the books. It’s a story fit for the front page of TMZ, but also one that’s opened a lot of peoples’ eyes to potential goings-on behind NFL scenes.
How does A.J. Brown trade impact the Buffalo Bills?
In landing Brown, it’s worth wondering if New England was smart to trade a future first-round pick for a 28-year-old alpha receiver with a known chronic and degenerative knee condition he’s had to manage since his days in Tennessee. Brown should improve the Patriots’ passing attack, if he remains healthy. It remains to be seen how much of a factor he will be against the Buffalo Bills. In five regular-season games against a Bills defense led by now-former head coach Sean McDermott, Brown has made 26 catches for 305 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Brown’s addition could also close the door on any potential reunion between New England and Stefon Diggs. That should play into Buffalo’s favor. As part of the Patriots’ roster in 2025, Diggs reminded the Bills what they gave up in giving up on him. Will New England find a similar fate?
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