A.J. Brown became the Patriots’ No. 1 wide receiver as soon as the trade with Philadelphia became official on Monday.
Appropriately, Brown will wear No. 1 with his new team.
The Patriots announced Brown’s new jersey number while announcing the trade that sent him to New England in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
He wore No. 11 in his three seasons with the Titans and his four seasons with the Eagles. That number, which wide receiver Julian Edelman once wore in New England, was available with the Patriots after they released quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
Instead, Brown will go back to his college number.
He wore No. 1 at Ole Miss.
A.J. Brown deleted his X account, but he still has his Instagram account. That’s what he used to thank the organization, teammates and Eagles fans after the trade from Philadelphia became official on Monday afternoon.
“Eagles Nation,
“Thank you for welcoming my family and me with open arms from day one. This city, this locker room, and this fan base will always hold a special place in my heart.
“To my brothers in that locker room: Thank you for going to battle with me every single day. The memories we made together, on and off the field, are something I’ll carry with me forever.
“To the coaching staff, trainers, equipment staff, cafeteria workers, and the cleaning crew: Thank you for everything you do behind the scenes to keep us going. There are so many people in the building who make it possible for us to go out there and compete, and I’m grateful for all of you.
“Playing for this city has been an honor, and I’m thankful for every moment I had in midnight green.
“Thank you, Philly. Much love always. God bless.”
In four seasons in Philadelphia, Green made 339 receptions for 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns.
The Patriots officially acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Eagles on Monday afternoon. They needed to make a corresponding move, and they did, placing tight end Julian Hill on injured reserve.
Hill cannot play this season unless the Patriots were to release him, which is unlikely. His injury is undisclosed.
In the offseason, Hill signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Patriots, and the deal includes $7.5 million fully guaranteed and a $4.2 million signing bonus. The Patriots were counting on him to replace Austin Hooper, who left for the Falcons in free agency.
Instead, third-round rookie Eli Raridon will have a bigger opportunity.
Hill, 25, spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins, playing mostly as a blocking tight end. In 45 games he has 33 catches for 288 yards.
The Eagles have been expected to trade A.J. Brown to the Patriots for some time and they officially pulled the trigger on the move on Monday afternoon.
The Eagles announced that they have agreed to send Brown to New England in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection. Brown will need to pass a physical in order for the deal to be finalized.
Cap implications for trading Brown became less onerous at 4 p.m. ET on June 1 and the Eagles’ announcement came minutes after that moment passed. The Patriots will now inherit the final four years of Brown’s contract while the Eagles will split their remaining $43.8 million cap hit over the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The Eagles added veteran receivers Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks before drafting Makai Lemon in the first round of April’s draft. They’ll join DeVonta Smith as Jalen Hurts’s top targets for the coming season.
Brown will now be Drake Maye’s No. 1 receiver in New England and he will be reunited with his former head coach with the Titans Mike Vrabel for a push at a Super Bowl ring to go with the one he earned in Philadelphia.
As soon as 4:01 p.m. ET on Monday, the deal can be made. As soon as Tuesday, it can become official.
So what will the Eagles get from the Patriots for the balance of the A.J. Brown contract?
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles will get New England’s first-round pick in 2028.
The Eagles lacked significant leverage. The relationship had already run its course. The cap consequences after 2026 would have become more challenging. And no other team ever materialized as an option.
As McLane notes, the trade also allows the Eagles to avoid $133.1 million in cash obligations under the contract.
It feels like a matter of “when” not “if,” and the “when” is likely coming soon. If/when the Eagles emerge with the Patriots’ first-round pick in 2028, Philly will have a direct hand in pushing that pick higher in the pecking order — the two teams will play each other during the 2027 regular season.
