The New England Patriots are in need of a No. 1 wide receiver after releasing Stefon Diggs. Enter AJ Brown. Brown has been linked to New England for several months thanks to head coach Mike Vrabel. The Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver spent the first three years of his career with Vrabel on the Tennessee Titans.
Brown has been vocal about his displeasure with Philadelphia and New England always being connected to him. In fact, the Patriots were Brown's favorite NFL team, and he has been quite outspoken about it in recent years. With the release of Diggs and an empty wide receiver room, the direction moving forward is clear. The Patriots should make trading for Brown a top priority.
As the Inquirer's Jeff McLain reports, New England and the Baltimore Ravens are considered the most likely trade partners for the Browns. The Patriots and Ravens both have a need for a No. 1 wide receiver, but any team acquiring Brown would have to be willing to give up a lot of assets and absorb a $23 million cap hit.
This shouldn't be a problem for New England. Despite making the Super Bowl, the organization still has a lot of needs, such as offensive line help and EDGE rushers. However, No. 1 wide receiver is the Patriots' biggest need after releasing Diggs. If not Brown, New England still needs to find at least two wide receivers through other means.
Neither of them will be at the same level as Brown, which is why trade should be the Patriots' top priority.
Potential New England Patriots trade package for AJ Brown
If the Eagles trade Brown this offseason, they are demanding a massive sale. On Thursday, the Buffalo Bills acquired DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Chicago Bears for a 2026 second-round pick. That's a hefty price for Moore, and it explains why the asking price in Philadelphia is so high. So, what should the Patriots trade for the Browns?
No matter what happens, the Patriots will have to move the 31st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It must also be willing to move another pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, such as a third-round pick. If the Eagles are looking for another asset, New England could add another pick or player. However, would it be too much? At some point, the Patriots have to draw a line.
While the Browns should be New England's top priority, sometimes it just doesn't work. It takes two parties to get a deal done and if the Eagles are in limbo over a first-round pick, a second or third first-round pick and another good player, there can't be a realistic deal for New England.
To be in the conversation, the 31st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2026 sixth-round pick should be the middle ground between New England and Philadelphia. It's a good deal for both sides, and it would give the Eagles plenty of value in exchange for one of the NFL's best wide receivers.
The Patriots know they need to acquire a No. 1 wide receiver. Whether it's Brown or Alec Pierce in free agency next week, New England will have to do everything possible to land Drake Mays' new favorite target. The Eagles are demanding sun and moon, but the Patriots must work as hard as possible to acquire Brown, while remaining realistic about a return.
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