Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is considered one of the best in the business, and rightfully so.
He just constructed one of the most dominant Super Bowl-winning teams in recent memory, where there were superstars all over the field on both sides of the ball. Roseman has also never been one to shy away from bold moves around the time of the NFL Draft, as he made a blockbuster trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown in 2022.
Now, Brown could shockingly be on the other side of an Eagles major draft-day move.
Eagles Predicted To Trade A.J. Brown to New England Patriots
For starters, let’s break down how Patriots radio analyst Paul Fitzgerald sees this wild scenario playing out.
If Abdul Carter falls to 4th overall…expect the 🦅 to place a call to New England about a possible reunion with a wide receiver who loves Mike Vrabel and the Pats
— FitzyGFY 🍺 (brew checkmark) (@FitzyGFY) April 18, 2025
Fitzgerald proposes that if Penn State superstar EDGE Abdul Carter is available when the New England Patriots are selecting at No. 4, the Eagles will swiftly pick up the phone. Roseman and Company will offer Brown, who is a long-time Patriots fan and former player of new head coach Mike Vrabel, to New England in exchange for the pick.
So, the Eagles and Patriots would essentially be swapping Brown for Carter, with likely a few additional assets on either side.
The Patriots desperately need a No. 1 target for sophomore quarterback Drake Maye, who had a solid rookie campaign given the circumstances. He slotted as the No. 19 QB in PFSN’s QB+ metric last season.
Brown is one of the NFL‘s most physically dominant receivers, standing at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds. Despite playing just 13 games in 2024, he still recorded 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns. Maye would have a Super Bowl champion to lean on when under pressure, who is also capable of taking short-yardage passes for impressive and unexpected touchdowns.
With New England’s offense coming in at No. 26 in PFSN’s Offense+ data last year, it’s clear how Brown could transform this team.
The biggest question surrounding this hypothetical trade is why the Eagles would agree. There are two possible reasons, and it would likely take a combination of both for Philadelphia to cut ties with Brown.
Firstly, how much does the Eagles’ scouting department believe in Carter turning into an All-Pro pass rusher? Secondly, does Philadelphia’s coaching staff have the confidence in DeVonta Smith to thrive as the No. 1 weapon on a Super Bowl-contending team? If the answer to both of those questions falls on the positive side, it becomes more realistic than most would expect.
Carter has every tool you’d want in a premier pass rusher except for the experience. He made the transition from off-ball linebacker to full-time EDGE more recently than most, which is why he’s a more raw talent than most going off the board as high as he is. However, if the Eagles can properly develop him, he will be a force to be reckoned with in Philadelphia for years to come.
Is Fitzgerald simply living in a fantasy land as a Patriots analyst? Possibly. But are there positives on both sides of the proposed blockbuster? Absolutely.