A.J. Brown gave an emotional address at the end of his youth football camp in Allentown, Penn. on May 3.
“I love you all,” Brown said into a microphone while addressing the camp’s attendees. “I don’t care what you hear out there. I love you all. You understand?”
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Brown’s comments came amid a maelstrom of trade rumors surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver. The three-time Pro Bowler has frequently been tied to the New England Patriots, and many believe the 28-year-old will be traded after June 1, at which point the Eagles can spread his dead-cap hit over two seasons.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Brown’s speech is indicative of a man who is well aware of what his fate will eventually be.
“I think he knows where his future is headed at this moment,” Schefter said when asked about Brown’s comments in a May 4 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “It will be a matter of the Patriots and the Eagles getting together to basically process the trade, finalize the trade, make sure it happens.”
Schefter noted the Eagles and Patriots have continued to discuss a potential trade even as New England has dealt with drama surrounding the nature of coach Mike Vrabel’s relationship with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
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That’s why Schefter believes the trade is still “on track” to eventually happen. He also outlined what he believes it will cost the Patriots to land the veteran wide-out in a trade.
“I still think it’s going to happen,” Schefter said. “I still think it will involve a future 1, likely a 2028 first-round draft pick. I still think all these elements are in place.”
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The 2027 NFL Draft class is expected to be loaded, so teams will be reluctant to surrender present-year draft capital with that in mind. As such, the Patriots and Eagles agreeing on a 2028 first-round pick as the main compensation for Brown would be sensible – if Philadelphia is willing to be that patient.
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Either way, Schefter foresees a trade getting done. It just won’t happen until the NFL calendar flips to June and passes one of the most important accounting dates on its offseason calendar.
“I still think that once we get to June that these two sides will get together and complete a trade that will send A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AJ Brown trade rumors continue to tie Eagles WR to Patriots
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