AJ Brown
Getty
AJ Brown could land with the Patriots in 2026.
The New England Patriots left no doubt that wide receiver is a high priority this offseason after a dismal offensive showing in the Super Bowl.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye needs help, as wide receiver Stefon Diggs and a supporting cast of receivers didn’t suffice overall in the postseason. Maye only completed 58.3% of his passes for 828 yards and six touchdowns versus four interceptions, and the Seattle Seahawks particularly gave Maye trouble.
Multiple outlets have floated Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown as a solution amid his uncertain future with the team, and Eagles brass confirmed Brown’s uncertainty on Tuesday at the NFL Combine. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton proposes that the Patriots trade cornerback Carlton Davis III and a third-round pick to the Eagles for Brown.
“To get this deal done, the Patriots may have to include a starter on defense,” Moton wrote. “They can offer Carlton Davis III, who’s a proven boundary cornerback with 105 career starts.”
“Davis would fill a void in the Eagles’ secondary after they rotated players at the No. 2 cornerback spot this past season. In his first year with the Patriots, he logged 10 pass breakups while allowing a 90.7 passer rating [out of a possible 158.3] in coverage,” Moton added.
New England can afford it, too, with $37.45 million of salary cap space this year. Brown currently has a three-year, $96 million contract extension in Philadelphia, but his public comments and spat with head coach Nick Sirianni during the playoffs indicate things could be coming to an end in Philly.
Patriots Hold 1 Key Advantage Over All Suitors
The Patriots have a big advantage over many of the teams that could line up to pursue Brown.
He previously played for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel when they were with the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel was fired by the Titans, and Brown was traded away to the Eagles, and both have thrived in their newer environments.
“When I say he holds every single player accountable from top to bottom, I don’t care who it is, like that’s who he is,” Brown told ex-Patriots greats Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski on the Dudes on Dudes podcast. “And it makes the team come together because nobody is bigger than the team.”
Vrabel is no stranger to bringing in players and helping them thrive, which he did with the majority of the Patriots roster in 2025. Brown has plenty left to offer as one of the top receivers in the league after 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
Stefon Diggs’ Role Would Change
If the Patriots acquire Brown, Diggs would no longer be the No. 1 receiver, which would ultimately benefit the offense with more high-level options for Maye.
Diggs tallied 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in 2025, but the Patriots will need more production across the receiving corps to win it all in 2026. After Diggs, the Patriots didn’t have another receiver with more than 46 receptions, 551 yards, or six touchdowns.
Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte were the next two most productive receivers, and both had lower numbers than tight end Hunter Henry, who had 60 catches for 768 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Brown would spread the field and allow more opportunities for Diggs and company in 2026.