The New England Patriots continue to explore ways to improve their roster during the offseason and after reaching the Super Bowl but falling short of winning it last season.
Speaking on Tuesday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel made that mindset clear, saying, "Anything we can continue to do to strengthen our roster, we're going to try to do."
Those remarks, added to Vrabel's comments at the NFL combine in late February, have connected the Patriots to a former Vrabel draftee and one of the NFL's most productive pass catchers: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
“Meant a lot,” Vrabel said about his relationship with Brown from their time together in Tennessee. “I watched him grow. I watched him mature. I’m proud of him.”
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Vrabel was asked about the possibility of trading for Brown ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
“I think that we’ll look at everything that we can possibly look at to add to our roster,” Vrabel said. “There’s a lot of back-and-forth. Taking on compensation. And so, I’m sure there’ll be a lot of opportunities for us to talk about trades, not only this week, but as we prepare and get closer to the draft.”
Those comments fueled speculation, and financial issues may be the only thing delaying the possible reunion.
That's according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who believes timing remains the key factor in a potential trade involving the Eagles.
"There's a sense around the league that the Eagles are definitely going to move on from A.J. Brown," Florio said. "He doesn't want to be there; that's the belief, and the team is ready to move him.
"I know of one person from a different team who says he has intimate knowledge of Eagles' cap situation now and into the future, and there's a belief that if they don't move him now, they are going to have a potential 'cap catastrophe' next year if they move him then. So, I think after June 1—that's when the cap charge will be much lower this year and the bulk of the dead cap money will hit the cap in 2027.
"That's when I think we'll see A.J. Brown being traded to the Patriots."
Brown remains one of the league’s most productive receivers, racking up 1,003 receiving yards in 78 receptions, including seven for touchdowns last year.
The Eagles wideout is under contract with Philadelphia through 2029 after signing a three-year, $96 million extension in 2024. He has hauled in 339 receptions for 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns in 62 regular-season games since joining the team via trade in 2022.
