Eagles Or Patriots: Who Emerges As The A.J. Brown Trade Winner?

The day has finally come. The trade was announced. Wide receiver A.J. Brown has been moved from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots in return for draft compensation, including a 2028 first-round pick.

So which team and which players benefit, and who could take a step back after this blockbuster deal?

FOX Sports' First Things First crew couldn't agree on a unanimous winner. It's a fair conclusion as there are reasons both sides had for agreeing to this trade. Brown is an elite talent, who's surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in six of his seven NFL seasons. A three-time Pro Bowler, he's totaled double-digit touchdowns in two seasons for two different franchises — the Eagles and Tennessee Titans. But now he goes to his third team, reuniting with former Titans and current Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, after a tumultuous and drama-filled fourth year in Philadelphia. 

Because of Brown's combination of talent and personality, both the Eagles and Patriots could come out as the winner or loser of this trade. 

For the Eagles, it will yield clear results of quarterback Jalen Hurts' caliber.

"It will be interesting to see what the Eagles look like without A.J. Brown because he was a key contributor to who they were and how they were able to unlock the offense," Greg Jennings said. 

Hurts' early-career success has largely been helped by a stacked receiving core, including Brown, Devonta Smith and running back Saquon Barkley. With the clear alpha of the group, in Brown, gone, Hurts will be tested to lift up his targets. The Eagles did, however, add receiving depth in preparation for this trade, drafting Makai Lemon in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and signing free agents Dontavion Wicks, Marquise Brown and