The time has nearly come for an A.J. Brown trade to be made official, and the New England Patriots continue to be the logical destination for the current Philadelphia Eagles star. In fact, the Patriots have long felt like the only realistic destination.
With just a couple days to go before the trade becomes much more feasible, financially, for the Eagles, we did recently hear a startling update from NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The report stated both sides were "not particularly close" on a deal, which might've made Patriots fans a little skittish.
But then, a former Patriots quarterback chimed in on the recent developments and brought us all back down to earth. Appearing on FS1's "First Things First," Brian Hoyer told Danny Parkins his take on the comments from Rapoport:
“I think this is just a little bit of white noise before we get to the finish line. I expect A.J. Brown to be a Patriot.”
"I think this is maybe one last-ditch effort ... is it one last effort to say, 'hey, anybody willing to give a first rounder for A.J.? Last chance.'"
Right on the money, Mr. Hoyer.
The Patriots are in a position of power when it comes to finalizing the A.J. Brown trade
Hoyer is essentially saying what every Patriots fan knows to be true. Sure, it's easy to be a little caught off guard after hearing what Rapoport said. If a prominent insider is saying the two teams aren't close on a deal, that's newsworthy.
But, Hoyer is saying the quiet part out loud, here. That report is merely just a bunch of white noise. Hoyer is absolutely right.
This report has to have come from the Eagles' camp because Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman knows the Patriots are the only team in on a trade for Brown. And after the price having been set at a first-round pick for quite some time, Roseman knows that there is a legitimate possibility he doesn't end up getting that.
Why would the Patriots feel forced to give up something they don't necessarily need to? What if they could get Roseman to budge by offering a second and a third, or some other type of combination that doesn't include a first rounder?
Roseman wants to try and get other teams engaged at the very last minute because he knows there are none.
Just the Patriots.
If New England doesn't have any real competition for Brown's services, then maybe, just maybe, Eliot Wolf could finagle his way into a deal that doesn't see the Patriots part with that first-round pick which Roseman so covets.
This is not a scary development. Rapoport's words should not worry anybody, because all this means is that the Patriots are in a definite position of power.
Now, just sit back and relax, Patriots fans, knowing that sooner or later, Drake Maye is going to wind up with a shiny new alpha wide receiver, and the Patriots' offense will be taken to even higher heights.
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