Eagles GM Howie Roseman insists A.J. Brown remains an Eagles player despite trade rumors

Before the Eagles' first-round draft pick on April 26, 2024, it was widely assumed that wide receiver A.J. Brown would not return to the team for a fifth season. The situation became even more uncertain when the Eagles traded up to select Makai Lemon, a cornerback from the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the No. 20 overall pick.

Yet, Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman has doubled down on his stance, reiterating that Brown remains an Eagles player. Speaking to the media after the draft, Roseman addressed the speculation via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer:

"A.J. is a member of the Eagles. We don't have any trades that have been made, or that are done. And I think for us, we're taking this one day at a time. We're going to look to improve the team tomorrow, and we'll continue to address anything that we have to with our roster, not only through this draft weekend, but we'll continue to look for ways to improve the team throughout the offseason, and as we get into training camp."

Reports indicate that the Eagles and New England Patriots have an unofficial handshake agreement to trade Brown to New England after June 1. At that time, the dead-money cap charge for the trade will be spread over two league years, making the move financially advantageous for Philadelphia.

While handshake deals are permissible in the NFL, they are not legally binding. Both teams must proceed in good faith, and either side can back out at any time. The only exceptions would be if Brown fails his physical with the Patriots or if one of the teams reneges on the agreement.

Unless one of those scenarios occurs, A.J. Brown is expected to officially become a New England Patriot on June 2, 2024.