Andrew Buller-Russ
While it’s finally done, the A.J. Brown trade to the New England Patriots had been in the works for months. Heading into the offseason, expectations were that this might be the year where those rumors finally became reality, and most reports indicated that the three-time Pro Bowler would likely end up with the Patriots.
Yet, Brown was open to playing for other teams too, it wasn’t just the Patriots from Day 1.
According to Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer, Brown initially gave the Philadelphia Eagles a list of four AFC teams he’d prefer to be traded to. Those teams were the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Patriots. But the Patriots were the team willing to offer the most for the soon-to-be 29-year-old Super Bowl champion.
“Meanwhile, Brown’s camp gave the Eagles four AFC teams they’d be happy to land with: the Bills, Chargers, Chiefs and Patriots. The Bills traded for D.J. Moore soon thereafter, taking themselves off the market, while the Chiefs and Chargers didn’t show much interest in a deal, leaving the Patriots, who hadn’t put a first-round pick on the table yet much less a first-rounder and another high pick.”
SI’s Albert Breer on A.J. Brown’s trade market
The Patriots likely felt the most comfortable parting with top compensation, being that Mike Vrabel had already coached Brown for three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Plus, our hunch is that the Eagles gave Brown’s agent a demand that they’d be open to trading him, but only to a team in the AFC that they wouldn’t directly have to compete with for playoff positioning.
Thus, the plan was hatched, and several months later, Brown finally had a new team, and the Eagles got what they wanted — a future first-round pick.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Insider Speculates on J.J. McCarthy’s Trade Value
