A handshake deal is a handshake deal, but the Baltimore Ravens have already shown exactly what it looks like when a team no longer likes a handshake deal before it becomes official. Just because it appears likely that A.J. Brown will be traded to the New England Patriots after June 1 doesn't mean the LA Chargers are completely out of the running.
New England would be within its rights to get close to June 1 and look to negotiate back down from whatever may have been agreed upon.
Another angle is that the Patriots are rumored to be weighing their options at head coach after everything that has transpired with Mike Vrabel. If that happens, a potential Brown trade could be turned on its head.
Mike Vrabel wrinkle could put A.J. Brown back on the trade block for the Chargers
The Patriots are already allegedly considering bringing in Mike Tomlin in the situation that Vrabel steps down. Unfortunately for New England, Tomlin was not fired. The Pittsburgh Steelers still have his rights, and like other big-name head coaches who have been traded in recent years, Tomlin would likely command a first-round pick and potentially even more.
After an acquisition like that, would New England feel comfortable spending even more draft capital on a receiver after reaching the Super Bowl without A.J. Brown at all? Would Tomlin even agree to a move like that for a receiver who is clearly unafraid of speaking his mind?
The point is simple: June 1 is still a ways away. A lot can happen between now and then that could put the Eagles in a bind where they essentially have to move off Brown, and the Patriots may not be there when the time comes.
If Joe Hortiz can position himself to at least entertain the idea, he may be able to land a bargain and bring in a superstar receiver to play in what is hopefully a completely revamped Chargers offense under Mike McDaniel.
Brown may be a bit of a “diva,” but what top-tier wide receiver doesn’t have some attitude? Character concerns can be addressed in the right circumstances, but at a certain point, talent is talent. A player either has it or he doesn’t. Can players improve? Obviously. But how often do you see a player slowly progress into being a true superstar? Almost never, and certainly not often at wide receiver.
Maybe the recent quarterback renaissances around the league have made it easier to believe players can blossom if given the right opportunity, but wide receivers usually do not work that way. Teams do not wait forever for receivers to become stars. They either show it, or they get replaced.
The clock is ticking on the Eagles to get Brown off their roster. They already moved up and drafted Makai Lemon in the first round, and teams know they want Brown gone. If New England gets cold feet in even the slightest way, Hortiz needs to be on the phone with Howie Roseman immediately.
The Super Bowl is in Los Angeles, and Chargers fans want their team to be there. This move could be the one that helps get them there. If the opportunity is there, the Chargers cannot let it pass them by.
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