5 Players Mike Vrabel Could Lure to the Patriots

2. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

The Patriots have lacked a true number-one wide receiver for years, and last off-season’s attempts to acquire one (Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker through the draft, and K.J. Osborn through free agency), have not panned out. Osborn, after signing a one-year deal with the team, was even cut before the season’s end. One way the Patriots can drastically improve their wide receiver room is to acquire one of the best wide receivers in the league, A.J. Brown.

Brown, 27, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and spent his first three seasons playing for Head Coach Mike Vrabel. In his first year, Brown took the league by storm, reeling in over 1,000 yards and 52 receptions. By no surprise, when Coach Vrabel took the New England Patriots job, rumors began to circulate about a potential reunion in Foxborough. Vrabel addressed said rumors on “The Greg Hill Show” on WEEI:

"Yeah, we'll see. I'm proud of his development, his personal development. And working on himself....He's a passionate player, and I love him to death. And I have a very, very close relationship with him."

- Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach

Alpha receivers typically come with even bigger personalities, and A.J. Brown certainly has one. As a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, this year Brown has not been shy about talking to reporters about the team’s passing game and run-first approach, which de-emphasizes the role of receivers. Additionally, during the team’s 22-10 Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, Brown was seen on the sidelines reading the self-help book Inner Excellence.

While incidents like these may be small, they can pile up. And who knows? Maybe Coach Vrabel can lean on his relationship with A.J. Brown to facilitate a trade to Foxborough and help out his new franchise quarterback Drake Maye.