Patriots 2026-27 Off Season

[Vermont Green]

I had to look up the details of AJ Brown's contract and why the June 1 date is so important.  My understanding is that if he is traded before June 1, they have to absorb his full signing bonus this coming season but if traded after June 1, it can be spread over 2 seasons:

Key Contract Changes (As of 2026 season):

Pre-June 1 Trade: The Eagles face a devastating  $43 million dead cap hit.

Post-June 1 Trade: The dead cap hit drops to $16.4 million in 2026, with the remaining $27 million+ deferred to 2027.

Salary Relief: A trade after June 1 actually saves the team over $7M on the 2026 cap.

I don't know all the details around this, but this is a pretty compelling reason to trade him after June 1.  I don't know what PHI would want in return.  They are a win now team but all the talk is draft picks.  I am not sure how it would work but NE could trade the rights to 2026 #1 to PHI in June, I don't believe there is any rule against this, but the deal would need to be settled on including who the Pats would pick for PHI.  I don't see why this would reduce what PHI expects as return for him.

[Roy H.]

I had to look up the details of AJ Brown's contract and why the June 1 date is so important.  My understanding is that if he is traded before June 1, they have to absorb his full signing bonus this coming season but if traded after June 1, it can be spread over 2 seasons:

Key Contract Changes (As of 2026 season):

Pre-June 1 Trade: The Eagles face a devastating  $43 million dead cap hit.

Post-June 1 Trade: The dead cap hit drops to $16.4 million in 2026, with the remaining $27 million+ deferred to 2027.

Salary Relief: A trade after June 1 actually saves the team over $7M on the 2026 cap.

I don't know all the details around this, but this is a pretty compelling reason to trade him after June 1.  I don't know what PHI would want in return.  They are a win now team but all the talk is draft picks.  I am not sure how it would work but NE could trade the rights to 2026 #1 to PHI in June, I don't believe there is any rule against this, but the deal would need to be settled on including who the Pats would pick for PHI.  I don't see why this would reduce what PHI expects as return for him.

Why trade him at all if it's going to wreck their cap this year or next?

[Vermont Green]

I had to look up the details of AJ Brown's contract and why the June 1 date is so important.  My understanding is that if he is traded before June 1, they have to absorb his full signing bonus this coming season but if traded after June 1, it can be spread over 2 seasons:

Key Contract Changes (As of 2026 season):

Pre-June 1 Trade: The Eagles face a devastating  $43 million dead cap hit.

Post-June 1 Trade: The dead cap hit drops to $16.4 million in 2026, with the remaining $27 million+ deferred to 2027.

Salary Relief: A trade after June 1 actually saves the team over $7M on the 2026 cap.

I don't know all the details around this, but this is a pretty compelling reason to trade him after June 1.  I don't know what PHI would want in return.  They are a win now team but all the talk is draft picks.  I am not sure how it would work but NE could trade the rights to 2026 #1 to PHI in June, I don't believe there is any rule against this, but the deal would need to be settled on including who the Pats would pick for PHI.  I don't see why this would reduce what PHI expects as return for him.

Why trade him at all if it's going to wreck their cap this year or next?

Fair question. Even the after June 1 dead cap hits are pretty big for a team trying to win now. 

[Goldstar88]

I had to look up the details of AJ Brown's contract and why the June 1 date is so important.  My understanding is that if he is traded before June 1, they have to absorb his full signing bonus this coming season but if traded after June 1, it can be spread over 2 seasons:

Key Contract Changes (As of 2026 season):

Pre-June 1 Trade: The Eagles face a devastating  $43 million dead cap hit.

Post-June 1 Trade: The dead cap hit drops to $16.4 million in 2026, with the remaining $27 million+ deferred to 2027.

Salary Relief: A trade after June 1 actually saves the team over $7M on the 2026 cap.

I don't know all the details around this, but this is a pretty compelling reason to trade him after June 1.  I don't know what PHI would want in return.  They are a win now team but all the talk is draft picks.  I am not sure how it would work but NE could trade the rights to 2026 #1 to PHI in June, I don't believe there is any rule against this, but the deal would need to be settled on including who the Pats would pick for PHI.  I don't see why this would reduce what PHI expects as return for him.

Why trade him at all if it's going to wreck their cap this year or next?

Fair question. Even the after June 1 dead cap hits are pretty big for a team trying to win now.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/e6o3YibWjM0

[Phantom255x]

If they don't get AJ Brown, and Diggs is unsigned, I'd just bring back Diggs on another 1-year deal. If you add Doubs to last year's WR room (or AJ Brown + Doubs with Diggs leaving) that's actually huge. But it can't just be Doubs.

Also it hit me, Tyreek Hill is still unsigned. That's interesting. A Chiefs reunion feels obvious but surprised it hasn't happened yet.

[Donoghus]

Also it hit me, Tyreek Hill is still unsigned. That's interesting. A Chiefs reunion feels obvious but surprised it hasn't happened yet.

Don't want that absolute POS on this Pats team.  Awful human being.