After cutting top wide receiver Stefon Diggs this week, the New England Patriots are in the market for a new No. 1 wideout.
The team has been linked to several of the top pending free agents including Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce and New York Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
But it seems New England is more inclined to go the trade route to land its big fish than fork over a bunch of money to an unrestricted free agent. And the Philadelphia Eagles just may be the dance partner the Pats are looking for.
Patriots Make Monster Offer for A.J. Brown
GettyThe New England Patriots are rumored to be the frontrunner to trade for Eagles WR A.J. Brown
It’s no secret that A.J. Brown wasn’t happy with his role in the team’s offense last season.
Philadelphia fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and replaced him with Sean Mannion, but that may not have been enough to convince Brown things will be better for him in 2026.
Brown clearly wants to move on, and fortunately for him, the Patriots seem keen on bringing in the former All-Pro. According to Anthony Gargano of Fox Sports Radio and All City Sports, the Patriots offered the Eagles first- and third-round picks in exchange for Brown but were rejected.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo also stated Eagles general manager Howie Roseman may also jut be playing hardball trying to hold out for a better deal.
“Really, all eyes are toward New England right now to see if that’s a possibility because you know the connection there,” Garafolo reported. “They definitely have been talking to them, there’s no doubt in my mind. They have to make a decision because they’re coming up on free agency.
“… A couple ways this plays out — maybe you get to the start of the league year and Howie (Roseman) goes, ‘OK, we’re keeping him; he’s in the fold,’ and then we get closer to the draft and maybe it rekindles and we get into training camp after June 1, which I know is preferable from a salary cap standpoint. There’s a couple ways this can play out.”
Patriots, Eagles or Bust?
Given Philadelphia’s astronomically high asking price of two first-round picks, most teams that were interested in acquiring Brown — the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers — may be turning their attention elsewhere to fill their WR needs.
The Bills traded a 2026 second-round pick to the Chicago Bears on Thursday for wideout DJ Moore, which likely takes them out of the Brown sweepstakes.
The consensus among most NFL insiders is if Brown is traded, it’s the Patriots or bust, meaning it seems Brown is down to just two options for next season unless something incredibly dramatic happens.
“It certainly seems like it will be the Patriots or the Eagles for A.J. Brown with an answer likely coming pretty soon,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Thursday.
NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger added: “First of all, they don’t have to do anything. Howie can just stand his ground. He’s in a good position. I’m sure New England wants to keep building around Drake Maye…but you want to give Drake Maye a true No. 1. Stefon Diggs was good, but he’s not A.J. Brown, he’s not going to draw pass interference penalties the way A.J. can, he’s not going to be the deep threat that A.J. can — and Vrabel loved him.”
Eagles Rejected Patriots’ AJ Brown Trade Offer: Report