The A.J. Brown trade noise is getting louder in Philly, but there is one update in particular that neither of Howie Roseman or Nick Sirianni would have expected.
Ever since the Eagles GM and head coach cast doubt on the Ole Miss legend's future in Philadelphia, and indirectly hinted at accepting trade calls, they expected a frenzy of phone calls.
Instead they got an NFL team calling their asking price "unserious."
Patriots blast A.J. Brown trade talks
"The Patriots have explored trade talks involving Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown, but feel the current asking price is unserious, according to one source," Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan and Doug Keyd reported.
Brown's roots with the Patriots are no secret. The connection between Vrabel and the WR from their Tennessee days is also a reason to think there could be a trade.
"Acquiring Brown would address the Patriots’ chief offensive objective this offseason: adding more firepower. Brown is coming off of a 1,000-yard season with 78 catches and seven touchdowns. He would qualify as the No. 1 receiver the team has long been seeking, having topped 1,000 yards every year of his career, excluding an injury-shortened 2021 campaign."
"Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has maintained a relationship with Brown from their three years together in Tennessee, where Brown entered the league as a second-round pick. Brown has been public about his lifelong fandom of the Patriots in interviews and on social media. He’s due a $29 million option on Sept. 1 and another $19.4 million option in 2027, plus minimal $1.3 million salaries in each of the next two seasons."
However, it might be the financials of the whole trade that appears to be off-putting the Patriots.
"The structure of his deal appears to be complicating talks. Trading Brown before June 1 would subtract $20 million from the Eagles’ cap because of all the dead cap hits that would accelerate onto their current books from future years. A post-June 1 trade would free up $7 million in cap space for the Eagles, but waiting until then becomes difficult for a team like the Patriots, which would need a Plan B at receiver in the event a Brown trade falls through and be well past the draft and free agency."
That is just the Patriots' take, though. There would still be plenty of buzz about whether there are teams that might make a move.