The New England Patriots are soaring after overcoming the Los Angeles Chargers to begin their 2025-26 NFL postseason run. While the defense stifled L.A.'s high-powered offense, Drake Maye and the rest of the offense were held in check for most of the night, and it became clear that the team needs a receiver who can create separation.
Luckily, this offseason, there will be opportunities to get Maye that target. One player who has been linked to the Pats and could be again is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, who just came off a disappointing 2025 season in Philly and played under Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel when both were with the Tennessee Titans. Now that the Eagles are eliminated, Brown's future is back in the spotlight.
Brown has the talent to take this Patriots team over the top. During his seven-year NFL career, Brown has accumulated 1,000-plus receiving yards in every season but one, and has been a touchdown machine, scoring at least five touchdowns in every season. After winning last year’s Super Bowl, he also knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
Although his skills are undeniable, that doesn't mean the Patriots would benefit from potentially adding Brown this offseason.
Trading for AJ Brown Could Do More Harm Than Good to Patriots
Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and like so many of the league’s best pass-catchers, wants the football. When he doesn’t feel included enough in his team’s offense, he has proven to be more of a distraction than an asset for his team. His most recent episode occurred on Sunday during the Eagles' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, when cameras caught the All-Pro receiver having a heated moment with head coach Nick Sirianni following a couple of missed opportunities.
For the Patriots, taking on a superstar like Brown is a significant risk. When he is engaged, he is one of the league’s best and the type of true No. 1 receiver that could take New England’s offense to new heights, especially in a pass-happy scheme. But when he isn’t locked in, if the last few seasons in Philadelphia are an indication, he isn’t afraid to share his thoughts with the media, which creates a distraction for his teammates and coaching staff.
In addition to his play on the field, there is a financial side to consider. Brown is signed through the 2029 season with an average annual value of $32 million. While the Pats have $46 million in cap space (per OverTheCap), having Brown take up most of that space isn’t the smartest use of resources, especially with other areas on the roster still needing attention.
Ultimately, while the idea of pairing Maye with a proven superstar like Brown is tempting, it doesn’t align with what the Patriots need most at this stage of their rebuild. New England should prioritize building a stable, flexible offense around its franchise quarterback rather than making a splashy, cap-restricting move that carries long-term risk.
The goal this offseason should be finding reliable playmakers who grow alongside Maye — not betting the future on a volatile, expensive solution that could create more problems than it solves.
With that in mind, trading for Brown should be saved for Madden 26 franchise mode save files. The Patriots have done too well of a job building up their current situation to let the disgruntled playmaker potentially ruin things, proving that a trade should be left to another WR-needy team.