Monday, June 1 marks the NFL’s designation, meaning franchises can spread a player’s dead money salary over two years following a trade or release.
Alongside the blockbuster Myles Garrett trade, Eagles WR A.J. Brown was finally traded to the New England Patriots.
This A.J. Brown trade was rumored for months — especially when Philadelphia seemed to select a replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft. Below, we’ll break down the move and what it could mean for projections surrounding the Eagles and Patriots in the 2026 season, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
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Eagles Trade A.J. Brown to Patriots for Picks
As mentioned, this move was expected for months, as seen in A.J. Brown’s impact on the 2026 NFL Draft back in April.
This trade seemed almost certain when the Eagles drafted USC WR Makai Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Furthermore, the Patriots spent their first two 2026 draft selections on Utah OT Caleb Lomu and Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas.
We’ve seen trade rumors fizzle out before, but this time, it actually happened. As expected, the trade revolved around draft picks, with New England sending a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Philly for Brown.
Let’s look at how the trade impacts the upcoming 2026 season.
How Does A.J. Brown Trade Impact Patriots, Eagles?
These are two playoff contenders, as PrizePicks Team Picks gives the Patriots and Eagles each a 1.56x payout to appear in the playoffs in the 2026 season.
According to Kalshi, the Rams remain in the forefront following the Myles Garrett trade, seeing a +6% spike in their chances to win the 2027 Super Bowl. However, the Patriots also saw their chances go from 4% to 5% following the A.J. Brown trade.
PrizePicks Team Picks gives New England and Philadelphia a 14.28x payout to win the 2027 Super Bowl.
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Frankly, neither team is showing a huge shift in NFL futures. Many expected this trade to happen for months. The Eagles prepared accordingly by selecting Makai Lemon, who has the sixth-shortest payout to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (8.33x), per PrizePicks Team Picks.
Philly remains the slight favorite to win the NFC East, featuring a 2.38x payout compared to the Cowboys’ 2.63x payout.
For the Patriots, they may finally have a long-term WR1 for franchise QB Drake Maye. New England released WR Stefon Diggs in March, signaling a potential move for a WR1.
According to Pro Football Focus, Brown produced 1.96 yards per route run compared to Diggs’ 2.08 in the 2025 season. Diggs earned an 82.6 receiving grade compared to Brown’s 83.4 mark.
Frankly, the two were comparable targets last season, helping explain why the Patriots are not surging following the move. One could argue Brown could benefit from a more favorable system in New England, though.
Patriots QB Drake Maye had an average depth of target (aDOT) of 9.7 yards last season, surpassing Eagles QB Jalen Hurts’ 9.2 aDOT. Plus, Maye’s 169.96 expected points added (EPA) led all QBs, while Hurts’ 43.94 EPA finished 15th, per Sumer Sports.
Brown could enjoy a career resurgence with the Pats, but will that be enough to drive a Super Bowl win for New England?
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The Eagles still carry plenty of offensive talent with RB Saquon Barkley, WR DeVonta Smith, and WR Makai Lemon, maintaining their status as a contender in the NFC. With a potential increased workload ahead, will A.J. Brown improve and help the Patriots’ chances of winning it all?
The NFL tab is already open, where you can make predictions for the 2027 Super Bowl winner, playoff qualifiers, win totals, and more for the 2026 season.
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