Kevin Byard and Romeo Doubs would welcome acquiring A.J. Brown, and other Patriots thoughts

FOXBOROUGH — Three weeks into the Patriots’ voluntary offseason program, here are some assorted notes from Gillette Stadium . . .

Read more Former private prison executive David Venturella will become ICE’s acting leader

⋅ Safety Kevin Byard said he hasn’t spoken to former teammate A.J. Brown about the potential of reuniting in New England, but he certainly made a compelling case as to why the Patriots should make it happen.

“He’s a true No. 1 receiver in this league,” Byard said Tuesday. “You still have to make sure you have the safety over the top of A.J., which obviously opens things up for a lot of other players.”

According to Byard, who hasn’t missed a game in 10 NFL seasons, No. 1 wide receivers alter the defensive game plan because of their ability to dictate coverage.

“Whether it’s A.J. or any guy,” Byard said. “Obviously, [when I played] in Chicago, it was Justin Jefferson. Every coverage and every play starts with knowing where No. 18 is and making sure you got somebody right in front of his face and somebody over the top.”

New England’s wide receiver depth chart features Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. Brown, despite his slightly worrisome injury history, would instantly elevate the group.

Over seven NFL seasons, Brown has finished with at least 1,000 receiving yards in all but one — 2021, when he suffered a chest injury that sidelined him four games. Last year, Brown caught 78 passes on 121 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns.

“You might see a guy’s stats may not be as great as it was earlier in his career, but dictating that coverage is a big thing with No. 1 receivers,” Byard said. “Because if you have a No. 2 receiver, or a No. 3 receiver, now you can win a lot of one-on-ones.”

Byard and Brown still train together in Tennessee. Brown also has familiarity with coach Mike Vrabel and wide receivers coach Todd Downing.

⋅ Doubs, too, sounds on board with the potential acquisition of Brown, a player he said he has “a ton of respect for.”

Read more ‘It’s maddening’: FIFA licensing delays threaten Massachusetts’ World Cup party plans

Doubs, who has experience in an offense that spreads the ball, expressed a willingness to play any role. As the roster stands, he would likely serve as the passing attack’s top target. But he seemed open to serving as a complement to Brown.

“Whatever it is I have to do,” Doubs said. “I’m open to all roles. That’s just part of this league. The more you can do, the more you can do for the team, the more you show for yourself.”

⋅ The Patriots hosted rookie minicamp over the weekend and asked several of their new players to share a fun fact about themselves. First-round pick Caleb Lomu said he’s “pretty good” at golf, and he solicited recommendations for courses to check out. Quarterback Behren Morton claims he’s even better, with a 0 handicap. Tackle Dametrious Crownover said he’s a “pretty good” bowler, with a high score of 249. Cornerback Karon Prunty said he enjoys fishing.

⋅ The complete NFL schedule is set to be released Thursday night at 8.

Given the improbable Super Bowl run, Vrabel’s popularity, and the rising profile of quarterback Drake Maye, it seems likely the Patriots will be selected for the maximum six prime-time games. Their opponents worthy of such a matchup include the Seahawks (Super Bowl rematch), Broncos (AFC Championship rematch), Bills (AFC East rivalry), Bears (Maye vs. Caleb Williams), and Chiefs (if Patrick Mahomes has returned).

After playing one of the easiest schedules in league history last season, the Patriots face a tougher slate this year. They have the sixth-hardest schedule in 2026, using opponents’ winning percentages from 2025. They also will face eight playoff teams from last season, including five division winners.

⋅ Apparently playing fullback comes with an invitation to “Fullbacks for Life,” a text message thread exclusively for, you guessed it, fullbacks. Reggie Gilliam estimates there’s about 40 players, past and present, in the group chat, with Lorenzo Neal being his favorite.

⋅ New linebacker K.J. Britt said he likes to take about a month off after the season ends. So, how did he spend it? Hunting. Britt, who owns Britt & Cobb Kennel, said he hunted with his father and grandfather every weekend in their home state of Alabama, as well as throughout the week in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

“I’ve been hunting since I was like 5,” Britt said.

⋅ The Patriots are still in the second phase of their offseason program, which means they can engage in individual and position group drills on the field. Team drills, such as seven-on-seven and 11-on-11, however, cannot start until the third phase, also known as organized team activities. The Patriots’ first OTA is scheduled for May 27.

⋅ Other notable dates on the horizon include May 31, which is Maye’s charity softball game at Polar Park in Worcester; June 1, which is when trading Brown becomes more financially palatable for the Eagles; and June 15-17, which is mandatory minicamp.

Read more As the Red Sox lineup sputters, ‘dangerous’ Kyle Schwarber offers a case of what they could have had