The New England Patriots' passing offense was incredible during the 2025 regular season, but it fell flat against more accomplished opponents in the playoffs. As the Patriots' think tank looks for fixes, one name is certainly crossing their minds.
Philadelphia Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown's name has come up in recent trade rumors, which were further kindled after his appearance on the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast with former Patriots Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman. In a hilarious moment, Edelman mentioned, "Just remember, we are all Patriots, you know that right?" to which Brown responded with a wink, causing the room to erupt in laughter. However, Brown backtracked quickly, confirming that he was just "trolling."
While it would be premature to draw conclusions from this podcast, Brown would be a natural fit in Foxborough. The Patriots have a No. 1 receiver in Stefon Diggs (85 receptions, 1,013 yards, four TDs), but he is on the downside of his career at age 32 and may be a salary-cap casualty this offseason. Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte also chipped in with contributions throughout the season.
Not adding a WR1 in the offseason might also prove detrimental to the growth of young QB Drake Maye, who looked like a deer in highlights during the business end of the season. While he had 828 passing yards and six passing touchdowns during that stretch, two of those scores came in garbage time. He had four interceptions, took an NFL postseason-record 21 sacks and fumbled seven times.
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Brown's inclusion might prove to be an instant fix, as he has been a standout wide receiver in the NFL since his debut in 2019. The 28-year-old wideout has three Pro Bowl appearances and a Lombardi Trophy, which he won in 2025. Brown maintained top-tier production in the 2025 season, notching 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season, averaging 12.9 yards per catch.
The Patriots will back themselves to land Brown if he ends up on the trading block, mostly because of his relationship with current Pats head coach Mike Vrabel. Brown and Vrabel were together on the Tennessee Titans for three seasons, and the latter played an integral role in drafting the former Ole Miss Rebels wideout. Brown acknowledged having a good relationship with Vrabel on "Dudes on Dudes," while highlighting their rocky start.