Finally, after months of speculation, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown’s trade saga could conclude as soon as this week. Yet, it still seems like it isn’t a guarantee that Brown will end up getting traded to the team that’s been favored to land him during the sweepstakes.
The New England Patriots have no plans to trade a first-round pick for Brown, NFL Network recently reported. As New England has been reported as the likely landing spot for Brown, that report indicates that there’s still some negotiating that needs to be done between the Patriots and Eagles.
So, who has the upper hand in the trade talks, then? Well, “First Things First’s” Nick Wright believes one side clearly has the leverage on his side.
“If you’re not comfortable with that being your [wide receiver] depth chart, and I don’t suppose you ought to be, then [Eagles general manager] Howie Roseman has the higher hand on this negotiation. You guys are going to need to pay greater than you wish to,” Wright stated.
Brown can be essentially the most completed extensive receiver in New England if the Patriots have been to land him. They reworked their extensive receivers room this offseason, releasing Stefon Diggs after he led the workforce in receiving yards and signed former Inexperienced Bay Packers standout Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million deal in free company. Nonetheless, the Patriots lack a transparent, true No. 1 possibility, as none of their pass-catchers on their depth chart have logged a 1,000-yard season.
Brown has loads of years the place he is hit that threshold. After concluding his fourth season with the Eagles, Brown has recorded a minimum of 1,000 receiving yards in six of his first seven years within the league. He had 78 receptions for 1,003 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns this previous season.
Though Brown had one other productive season, he aired out his frustrations with the Eagles’ offense all year long. That led to commerce rumors rising in March, with groups just like the Patriots and Los Angeles Rams being linked to the star extensive receiver.
Nonetheless, the Brown sweepstakes have been an extended course of as a result of his contract. Philadelphia is incentivized to commerce Brown after June 1, as it will’ve taken on a $43 million lifeless cap hit if it moved him previous to that date. If the Eagles commerce Brown after Tuesday, they will tackle a $16.4 million lifeless cap hit.
Even with that in thoughts, Wright believes that the Eagles maintain the playing cards over the Patriots in commerce talks due to what New England did this offseason because it seems to make one other run to the Tremendous Bowl with rising quarterback Drake Maye.
“You guys didn’t deal with the place since you imagine you will have this deal executed,” Wright stated. “If it’s true you don’t wish to hand over a primary[-round pick], my guess is Howie goes to have the ability to pry a primary out of you.”
