The New England Patriots have a lot of drama surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, but they can’t let that distract them from their quest to continue upgrading their roster. Even with the draft drawing near, the Patriots remain heavily linked to a potential trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for star wide receiver A.J. Brown.
While finances make a deal unlikely to happen until after June 1, there’s a lot of posturing going on between the two sides currently, and you can bet both teams will keep close tabs on each other’s moves during the draft. With the trade talks for Brown in mind, Ben Solak of ESPN recently urged the team to make one pivotal move during the draft.
The A.J. Brown Reason Why Patriots Must Draft a Wide Receiver
One of New England’s top needs this offseason is a No. 1 wide receiver, but to this point, they haven’t filled that need. The front office swapped out Stefon Diggs for Romeo Doubs in free agency, but quarterback Drake Maye still lacks an explosive de facto top target who can break games open on any given play.
That’s the sort of player Brown is, and it’s a big reason why he has been so heavily linked to the Pats this offseason. Even in a down year in 2025, Brown still put up big numbers (78 receptions, 1,003 yards, seven touchdowns) that would have made him the Patriots’ most productive pass catcher had he been on their roster.
Since Philadelphia would save around $20 million in cap space if it were to trade Brown after June 1, it doesn’t have much of an incentive to move him for the time being. According to Solak, though, N.E. can keep the pressure on the Eagles by selecting a wide receiver on Day 2 of the draft, which could help its front office negotiate a better deal later on this offseason.
“One of the draft’s big questions is if and how the Patriots address wide receiver at the end of Round 1,” Solak wrote. “Of course, A.J. Brown is definitely a WR1, and guys such as Denzel Boston (Washington) and KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) also might be. If I were Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel, I’d pass on wide receiver in Round 1 but still hit it on Day 2 to keep leverage on the Eagles, who could eventually lower their demands this summer.”
Will the Patriots Eventually Trade for A.J. Brown?
GettyEagles wide receiver A.J. Brown reacts during pregame warmups as an insider report identifies a Patriots trade as his most likely next move.
With several teams bowing out of the running for Brown’s services due to the Eagles’ steep price for him, it’s felt increasingly likely that he will eventually get shipped to the Patriots. Nothing has been finalized yet, of course, but Philly is clearly shopping Brown, and New England remains his only realistic suitor for the time being.
A lot could change over the next six weeks or so, but these rumors aren’t going away, and they will likely be in full force by the time June 1 rolls around. The Patriots will indicate how they feel about a potential deal for Brown during the draft, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them bring a new face to town at some point in either the second or third round.
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