The Patriots have left the door open to add A.J. Brown.
When asked about trading for A.J. Brown, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf responded, “We’ll explore anything we think can help the team,” which isn’t the most revealing answer, but isn’t “no.”
Brown and Vrabel Reunion?
A reunion between Brown and Mike Vrabel seems possible. It might not happen until after June 1, but a deal would move a solid Patriots offseason into the “excellent” category.
Receivers In and Out
Absent Brown, the big move at receiver has been releasing Stefon Diggs and signing Romeo Doubs from the Packers. Doubs’s four-year deal is worth a base of $68 million, but for all intents and purposes it’s a two-year, $35 million deal with $31 million fully guaranteed. The final two years and $33 million essentially serve as one-year team options.
On paper, everything looks great for the Patriots. Doubs is 6½ years younger, and cheaper than Diggs, who was set to make $22.5 million cash in 2026, with a salary-cap number of $26.5 million. Doubs will make $18 million-$20 million million this fall, and his cap number is just $8.9 million.
The real question, though, did the Patriots get better? Diggs had 85 catches for 1,014 yards last year, while Doubs has never had more than 59 catches or 724 yards.
Diggs’s Potential Return
Asked if the Patriots approached Diggs about coming back on a reduced salary, Wolf responded, “We talked about a variety of options, and ultimately went in this direction.” He added that the Patriots wouldn’t close the door on Diggs’s return. However, he seems like only a backup plan if they strike out on Brown, and it is unknown if Diggs will remain unsigned for that long.
Potential Casualties of a Brown Trade
If the Patriots do trade for Brown, it could put a current receiver on the outs, most likely DeMario Douglas or Efton Chism. Considering Chism is under contract at a minimum salary for two more years, while Douglas’s salary jumps to $3.6 million in 2026 with none guaranteed, Douglas could be the player to leave.
Focus on the Run Game
There was a clear directive to improve the run game and trenches. They spent $53.1 million fully guaranteed over two years for guard Alijah Vera-Tucker ($16.5 million), fullback Reggie Gilliam ($6 million), blocking tight end Julian Hill ($7.5 million), and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones ($23.1 million). They replace Garrett Bradbury, Jack Westover, Austin Hooper, and K’Lavon Chaisson.
“Adding the fullback, guard, and a tight end who’s primarily been a blocker in his career certainly was intentional,” Wolf said.
The Patriots run game struggled for much of last season, ranking 23rd in success rate. For the first three months of the season, Rhamondre Stevenson averaged 3.2 yards per carry, 64th.