The Philadelphia Eagles trading up for wide receiver Makai Lemon in the 2026 NFL Draft has widely been considered a precursor to A.J. Brown's departure. But what if there's a world where they (and DeVonta Smith) coexist?
Signs have continued to point to Brown getting traded to the New England Patriots come June 1. It's the worst-kept secret in football right now. However, the three-time All-Pro landing in Foxborough reportedly might not be as much of a foregone conclusion as we thought.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots explored taking a wideout in Round 1 this year because no deal for Brown is set in stone.
"As one team source pointed out, the Patriots have nothing binding with the Philadelphia Eagles and A.J. Brown," Fowler wrote. "No firm agreement is in place. Now, could there be a wink-wink understanding? Certainly. But New England was free to make a move for a receiver, and it was on its radar in the first two rounds."
NFL insider may have quietly pumped the brakes on Eagles-Patriots A.J. Brown trade chatter
There's a lot to unpack here, though let's start with Philadelphia's side of things. Will general manager Howie Roseman's steadfast commitment to saying Brown is "a member of the Eagles" prove true? If so, why did the club make such an aggressive move for Lemon?
Interestingly, a rival squad "picking late in the first [round]" believed the Patriots legitimately considered selecting a receiver, according to Fowler. KC Concepcion, who the Cleveland Browns chose No. 24 overall, "was a hot name." New England was among those who "thought highly of him."
Would grabbing Concepcion have effectively eliminated the Patriots from the running for Brown's talents? Lest we forget, New England signed veteran Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract in free agency this offseason. Or were they hoping to pair them together and create a dynamic pass-catching trio?
Read more: Makai Lemon revealed his jersey number (and Eagles legend's response is spot on)
We won't know where the Eagles, Patriots, and Brown truly stand for at least another month. Philly's biding their time until they can split his $40 million cap hit between the next two seasons instead of paying in one lump sum. Nevertheless, the fact that New England did its due diligence on top prospects, like Concepcion, adds another layer to this seemingly never-ending saga.
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