ESPN Predicts Eagles to Replace A.J. Brown in Round 1 of NFL Draft
A.J. Brown is currently a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, but for all intents and purposes, he might as well already be wearing a New England Patriots jersey.
Multiple reports have come out in the past few days that the Eagles and Patriots are in agreement to send the star wideout to Boston.
While the Eagles could have traded Brown before the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft on Sunday, it would have meant they would have carried more dead money on their cap than they could spread out if they execute the trade at the beginning of June.
The team has no issues solidifying DeVonta Smith as their undisputed No. 1 wide receiver, but could they go out and get the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout some help in the draft?
ESPN believes they will.
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In the first round of Thursday’s selections, ESPN Nation has the Eagles going out and getting a wideout right off the bat. Although it’s a stacked wide receiver crop with the likes of Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate, and Makai Lemon, all of those players are expected to be gone by the time Philadelphia selects 23rd on the night.
ESPN’s Tim McManus has, this time, Boston coming to Philly, and not a Philly player going to Boston.
Denzel Boston, that is.
“With trade winds swirling around A.J. Brown all offseason, the Eagles are likely to be moving on, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, from one of the greatest receivers in franchise history,” wrote McManus about the pick. “They have done some work to account for his potential departure by signing Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore to one-year deals before trading with the Green Bay Packers for Dontayvion Wicks. But general manager Howie Roseman will not be shy about adding more playmakers to complement DeVonta Smith if the draft-board value lines up.”
Boston has risen in the wideout rankings since the end of the college football season and would be a valuable, young partner who could create an equally star-studded wideout duo of the future with Smith, at 80% less drama.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 7:32 PM.