The Philadelphia Eagles are almost certainly moving on from A.J. Brown, and the New England Patriots are the team most strongly linked to a trade for the Birds' underperforming WR1 from the 2025 season.
PhillyVoice's Jimmy Kempski offered a plausible scenario for a Brown proposal from the Patriots: cornerback Marcus Jones, who could provide an extra body in the secondary with Adoree Jackson looking like a goner in free agency.
"One player who I am certain is Howie Roseman's jam is slot CB Marcus Jones, who is simply a playmaker. Jones had 65 tackles (8 for loss), 3 INTs (including a pick-six, plus another pick-six in the playoffs), 11 PBUs, 2 sacks, and he returned two punts for TDs." Kempski wrote.
"Of course, the Patriots would not want to lose him, obviously. But if you're a fanfic type, a secondary of Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, and Jones at corner, with Cooper DeJean and Andrew Mukuba at safety would be pretty nasty."
Jones was a 2025 NFL All-Pro return man. He ranked No. 25 (of 114) with a 72.2 PFF coverage grade and was New England's go-to slot corner. Obviously, he's going to cede plenty of snaps to Cooper DeJean covering the slot, and he's not going to usurp Will Shipley, who had 26.9 yards per kick return, as the primary return man.
Still, Jones fits into exactly what the Eagles are doing scheme-wise.
Marcus Jones fits Vic Fangio and Joe Kasper's game plan
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio runs a base nickel package with five DBs. Blitzing isn't the name of the game, so Jones' ability to meet the moment in the open field would be a welcomed sight for the Birds.
First-year defensive pass-game coordinator Joe Kasper, who was promoted to replace Christian Parker, who famously took his talents to the Dallas Cowboys to be their Matt Eberflus replacement, would certainly appreciate a versatile weapon of Jones' talents.
If/when a Brown trade goes down, Philadelphia has several paths. Directly replacing him isn't necessary, since Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, and Marquise Brown were all added this offseason, as Kempski pointed out. Helping out the defense would be a luxury, and safety Craig Woodson is just as much of a possibility, but adding Jones makes Philadelphia injury-proof in coverage, to a degree.
If Jalen Hurts' game is permanently moving in the wrong direction, and there's the slightest bit of a question at quarterback, making the defense an undeniable strength is the best way to keep the Eagles in win-now mode.
Let's hope Jones' name comes up when Brown trade talks really heat up next month.
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