The NFL rumor mill is buzzing, and at the center of it all is star wide receiver A.J. Brown. While the New England Patriots have long been considered the frontrunners to land the dynamic playmaker after June 1st, one Eagles insider is throwing a bit of cold water on the certainty of that deal.

According to Adam Schefter, a post-June 1st trade between the Eagles and Patriots is widely expected, granting Brown his reported wish to head to New England. However, as any seasoned football fan knows, a handshake agreement isn't a signed contract. Until the paperwork is official, the Philadelphia Eagles retain the right to trade their star receiver to any team that makes the best offer.

Both franchises have conducted their offseasons as if the trade is a done deal, but Eagles insider Eliot Shorr-Parks recently clarified the situation on WEEI. While he strongly believes Brown will end up a Patriot, he acknowledged a small but real possibility of a last-minute twist.

"If you look at how this has been handled by both sides, both A.J. and the Eagles," Shorr-Parks explained on Thursday. "There's been no subliminal shots, no public trade demand, no bashing of the player through sources. I think they're on the same page. They're okay splitting up, and I think because the Patriots are such a natural fit, and AJ wants to be there and they want him, I think the Eagles will make that happen. Could another team slide in at the last minute? Maybe, but I fully expect him to be a Patriot."

The key takeaway? The Eagles have no loyalty to the Patriots or to Brown's personal preferences. If a rival franchise swoops in with a monster offer, Philadelphia would be well within its rights to accept it. However, the lack of any other serious suitors publicly linked to Brown over the past two months suggests the Patriots' path remains clear.

For now, Patriots fans can breathe easy, but in the high-stakes game of NFL trades, nothing is guaranteed until the ink is dry. Stay tuned for what promises to be one of the offseason's biggest moves.