The Philadelphia Eagles traded star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, the teams announced Monday.Why they made the moveThe Patriots and Eagles had been discussing a Brown deal for months, but Philly couldn’t do it until Monday for cap-related reasons. Per NFL rules, the Eagles would have absorbed the entirety of his $43.45 million in dead money in 2026 if they traded him before Monday. Now that the June 1 deadline has passed, the Eagles can split the dead money of $16.35 million in 2026 and $27.1 million in 2027.Brown appeared increasingly frustrated with the Eagles’ offense in recent seasons, and he missed six games with injuries over the last two years. His production also dipped in 2025, with his 1,003 receiving yards his lowest total since his final year with the Tennessee Titans (869). And whether that was on Brown, the offense or a combination, too many factors aligned to signify the end of an impressive four-year run with the Eagles that included three All-Pro teams and a Super Bowl.Meanwhile, the Patriots needed a true No. 1 receiver for budding star quarterback Drake Maye. Even if New England doesn’t match the results from its shocking Super Bowl run, there’s something to be said for ensuring the third-year QB doesn’t have to do it on his own. If the Patriots make strides on the offensive line, Brown’s presence should help Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams fall into more suitable roles.