A.J. Brown’s orientation day as a member of the New England Patriots couldn’t have gone much better. He said all the right things, wore a huge smile, and looked smooth and healthy running routes for quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots’ social media team even captured a casual, one-handed catch on a back-shoulder throw that left fans swooning.
About 300 miles southwest of Boston, the Philadelphia Eagles hit the practice field for the first time since trading Brown to the Patriots in exchange for two draft picks, including a 2028 first-rounder. Tuesday’s session was reportedly a much different vibe, though.
According to multiple Eagles reporters on hand, quarterback Jalen Hurts’ first pass of 7-on-7 drills was thrown right to backup linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for an interception. The Eagles also saw rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, exit practice with a hamstring injury.
There’s been plenty of online and sports radio chatter about how GM Howie Roseman and the Eagles fleeced the Patriots, who are taking on Brown’s full $29 million cash salary in 2026 as part of the trade. There may be some truth to that, but after Day 1, the reality that Brown is actually a Patriot finally started to sink in — and Philly’s rough first practice without him made the whole thing even sweeter.
Eagles expert Anthony Miller summed up how fans on the other side of the trade are feeling right now.
“Yes, the crowd that says it's only one pass and one practice is absolutely right,” Miller said. “There is no reason to hit the panic button, especially since this offense is still new and offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is putting his scheme in place.
It's the timing of the interception that makes it look bad. Hurts can't afford to be making these kinds of mistakes, especially when it is a backup picking him off. The tone has to be set right away that the Eagles are better off without Brown and will be a force to be reckoned with. … Many believe the Eagles' offense has gotten worse, so the Birds have to put that narrative to rest this summer.”
The Eagles may have ‘won’ the A.J. Brown trade, but Patriots fans aren't complaining
Roseman is the best general manager in football for a reason. The Patriots are far from the only team in the NFL who have gotten the “Howie heist” treatment following a big trade.
It’s also easy to gloss over the fact that the first-round pick the Eagles received from the Patriots is still two full NFL seasons away. If New England gets a healthy and motivated Brown over that span, contend for division titles and continue to win playoff games — that steep price will be well worth it.
If anything, Philly’s first practice without Brown signifies a harsh reality. Even with yet another new offensive coordinator taking the reins, it’s hard to believe the Eagles’ struggling passing attack will improve without the receiver Hurts targeted most in each of the past four seasons.
Roseman may have squeezed a premium return out of Brown while creating some immediate cap space and clearing $32 million in remaining guarantees off the books. But it was the Patriots’ roster that got better on June 1. New England surprisingly didn’t have to send a player, like Kayshon Boutte, back to Philly to even out the deal.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Tuesday that the Eagles will be attending joint practices in Foxboro on Aug. 19 and 20 ahead of their preseason game that Saturday. Those two days should stand as a solid next checkpoint of where things stand.
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