The New England Patriots have been linked to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown all offseason, and a recent trade could impact their pursuit of him.
The Miami Dolphins are reportedly trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, and the move is both good and bad news for the Patriots. Waddle is reportedly getting the Dolphins the Broncos' 2026 first-round pick and their late third and fourth round picks. The Broncos are getting a fourth-round pick in addition to Waddle.
The compensation for Waddle should worry the Patriots. Waddle and Brown are similar in age, but Brown is more accomplished. Waddle has 5,039 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in five seasons. Brown has played eight seasons, has 8,029 receiving yards and 56 touchdowns. He is also a three-time Pro Bowler, three-time Second-Team All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion.
If Waddle was able to garner a first-round pick, the asking price for Brown may also require one. The Patriots were reportedly unwilling to include a first-round pick in early talks with the Eagles.
On top of impacting the Patriots' pursuit of Brown, the trade makes the Broncos a better team. The Broncos reached the AFC Championship last season, but had to play without Bo Nix. They are a real threat to the Patriots Super Bowl dreams, and adding Waddle makes them an even bigger obstacle to the Patriots.
The only positive that comes out of this trade for the Patriots is the fact that the Dolphins got worse in the short term. They do have an extra first-round pick now, but they have lost their best pass catcher.
More NFL: Drake Maye Named Offseason Winner Amid Patriots Moves