A.J. Brown Trade Rumors: Patriots, Steelers, Bills Eyeing the WR?

The NFL is not typically on the level of the NBA or MLB when it comes to blockbuster trades, but pro football player movement has become much more prevalent in recent years. The Philadelphia Eagles trading WR A.J. Brown would certainly qualify as a blockbuster, and there has been buzz that a deal involving Brown could happen before the Tuesday NFL trade deadline. Below, we will look at the latest A.J. Brown trade rumors involving teams like the Patriots, Steelers, and Bills.

🏈 A.J. Brown trade rumors

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio more or less stated this past week that he believes that the Eagles want to shop Brown, but just don’t want to make it look like they are doing so.

“When you look a little deeper, it sure looks like the Eagles are willing - if not eager - to get phone calls about A.J. Brown," Florio said on PFT Live. "And that was going into [last] Sunday’s game. A game in which Saquon Barkley erupted for his best game of the season, and A.J. Brown did not play.

"Think about the teams in the AFC that could have interest. I’ve heard of several teams that are interested. 

"This, to me, feels like an effort by the Eagles to shop A.J. Brown without shopping A.J. Brown. To wait for the phone to ring. To not be the one that picks up the phone. To see if someone makes you an offer that you can’t refuse.

"Something has been going on there. [Brown] has been a source of issues, whether he’s right or wrong. There’s been frustrations that he’s admitted to. Could the Eagles engage in a little addition by subtraction by moving on from A.J. Brown and picking up some significant draft pick compensation by getting multiple AFC teams clamoring to try and get him? Starting with the New England Patriots, who are coached by his former head coach, Mike Vrabel. It’s an interesting thing to watch as the trade deadline moves closer.”

🔴 Patriots A.J. Brown trade rumors

The Patriots are up to something as they traded away two former defensive starters this past week in Kyle Dugger and Keion White. The moves gave a team that already has solid cap flexibility, even more heading into the NFL trade deadline.

A Brown trade to the Patriots makes the most sense given the relationship between Vrabel and Brown. Vrabel was staunchly against trading away Brown while he was the head coach in Tennessee, but was eventually overuled. By most accounts, Brown is one of Vrabel’s favorites. Here is what Vrabel had to say about Brown in April of 2022. 

“Not as long as I’m the head coach,” Vrabel told Rich Eisen when asked if he saw a potential trade of Brown coming. “I love A.J. professionally, personally. I’ve gotten to know him well as his coach and enjoy seeing him as much as I possibly can. As long as I’m the coach here I would want to have A.J. Brown on my football team.”

Less than a month after Vrabel made those comments, Brown was traded to the Eagles. Many point to this as the beginning of the end of Vrabel’s tenure in Tennessee due to growing friction he had with the Titans front office and ownership.

NFL insider Dianna Russini also recently talked about Vrabel and Brown possibly working together again.

“We’ve seen trades happen in the past where the two sides just don’t want to be together anymore,” Russini told Phil Perry on the Next Pats podcast. “It’s pretty obvious to everybody watching: there’s dysfunction there, and something’s not working [in Philadelphia]. A.J. Brown - he’s not happy. I don’t think that takes a lot of insider knowledge. He puts it out there for you. 

“We’ve got to see how this goes, but I can tell you, New England has got to keep their eye on it. They’re going to call [the Eagles] just to see, because you never know.”

New England Patriots odds: The Patriots are one of the surprise teams of the season. Vrabel’s team had +8000 odds to win the Super Bowl prior to the start of the season. They are now +3000 to win the title.

🏗️ Steelers A.J. Brown trade rumors

The Steelers’ biggest need right now is a wide receiver to pair with DK Metcalf. Metcalf has 461 yards receiving on the season. The WR with the second highest number on the Steelers is Calvin Austin, who has just 167 yards receiving on the campaign. So clearly, the Steelers are in the market for a pass catcher. 

The Steelers have an extra 2026 third-round pick to dangle after the George Pickens trade, so the Eagles would surely listen to a pitch from Steelers general manager Omar Khan.

Pittsburgh is definitely a team to watch when it comes to a trade for an impact veteran, particularly at the receiver position. The Steelers are all-in on this season with Aaron Rodgers at the helm.

Also, of note, Brown and Metcalf were college roomates at Ole Miss and remain close.

Pittsburgh Steelers odds: The Steelers owned +4000 Super Bowl odds before the season began. Mike Tomlin’s squad is now +7000 to win it all.

🦬 Bills A.J. Brown trade rumors

The Bills have tried to make it work without having a true No. 1 receiver the past couple of seasons. The results have been mixed thus far. 

Most believe Buffallo is in desperate need for a top WR option to put them over the top. Brown certainly fits the bill, but this one is probably the most far-fetched of the teams listed here. 

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell said he’d be “surprised if the Bills” went hard after Brown, and that he believes that if Buffalo does make a trade it will be on the defensive side of the ball.

Buffalo Bills odds: The Bills began the season as one of the favorites to win it all with a +700 price at the best NFL betting sites. Sean McDermott’s crew is currently +800 to raise the Lombardi Trophy. Only the Chiefs, Lions, and Packers are higher on the Super Bowl odds board.