{"id":936,"date":"2026-05-22T10:34:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T10:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=936"},"modified":"2026-05-22T10:34:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T10:34:34","slug":"patriots-mailbag-are-there-alternatives-if-a-trade-with-the-eagles-for-a-j-brown-cant-be-worked-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=936","title":{"rendered":"Patriots mailbag: Are there alternatives if a trade with the Eagles for A.J. Brown can\u2019t be worked out?"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<div>\n<p><span>Welcome back to the mailbag. As the expected post-June 1 date for an A.J. Brown trade nears, readers are curious about the veteran wide receiver and wonder if there are other alternatives if the Patriots and Eagles can\u2019t consummate a deal. Let\u2019s get to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=934\">There are 20 days until the World Cup. Just tuning in? Here are 20 things to know to get caught up.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span><b>We still keep hearing A.J. Brown is definitely coming to the Patriots. Why should they part with much-needed draft picks for this aging and complaining wide receiver? Wouldn\u2019t it be a lot cheaper to draft one in the first round next year and sign one on the cheap from this list: Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, Keenan Allen, or DeAndre Hopkins?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>\u2014 Jim Deveau, Pawleys Island, S.C.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>If Brown is available, he\u2019s the best option, and it\u2019s not particularly close. His background with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, his recent production, and the fact that he would be (relatively) cost-effective put him at the top of the list. He\u2019s the only one on that list who is under 30, has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons, and has played 13 or more games in each of those four years. <\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><span>Get Starting Point<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span>A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><label>Enter Email<\/label><\/p>\n<div><button>Sign Up<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><b>All signs point to New England acquiring A.J. Brown next month, but as the <\/b><b>Maxx Crosby situation<\/b><b> proved, nothing is ever final until the ink is dry on the contract. If, for whatever reason, the Brown deal doesn\u2019t happen, what are the chances of the Patriots reuniting with Stefon Diggs now that <\/b><b>his legal situation<\/b><b> is cleared up? Would he be a plus or a minus for team chemistry, given the circumstances?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>\u2014 Patrick Halley, Bartow, Fla.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>I saw a report Stefon Diggs could be signed for around $10 million on a one-year deal. Why the heck wouldn\u2019t New England bring him back?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>\u2014 Douglas Lowe, Boston<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>When it comes to \u201cyou never know,\u201d I\u2019d also throw last offseason\u2019s pursuit of Milton Williams in there, as well. Williams was a Carolina Panther . . . until he wasn\u2019t. If a Brown trade doesn\u2019t happen, Diggs would be an intriguing fallback. He\u2019d probably balk at $10 million a year, but if you could find some common ground on money, he\u2019d be a plus for team chemistry. I know a lot of guys on both sides of the ball liked him and appreciated his contributions last season. That being said, I think the idea of Diggs returning would be a long shot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=932\">Offering up a toast to New England sports fans. It\u2019s different here, for the better, and other thoughts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span><b>Why does everyone think the A.J. Brown to the Patriots on June 1st is a fait accompli? Other teams need receiver help too; the Bills and Chiefs, for example. San Francisco, Seattle, and the Los Angeles Chargers all have plenty of cap space to make a deal, too. Any team could swoop in and meet Philly\u2019s asking price if the Patriots stand firm of not sending back a No. 1 pick.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>\u2014 Jack Sheehan, Amherst<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The team that I still wouldn\u2019t rule out is the Rams. They have a history of parting with draft picks in the name of acquiring talent, just enough financial flexibility, and their championship window is open (which means they can offer Brown an opportunity to win another ring). The potential uncertainty around Puka Nacua\u2019s future could also play a role in the Rams making a move.<\/span><\/p>\n<div><span>Related<span>: <\/span><\/span>NFL\u2019s shift to streaming is drawing ire, but is it wrong?<\/div>\n<p><span><b>Which AFC East team has had the best overall offseason so far? And why?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>\u2014 Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Bills and Dolphins have been active. I really like what they did in the draft, as both got Day 2 and 3 players I thought would have been good fits in Foxborough in wide receiver Skyler Bell (to the Bills) and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (to the Dolphins). But to paraphrase John Wooden, let\u2019s not mistake activity for achievement. It\u2019s also worth mentioning the Jets have done well, landing a few draft picks that I really like (David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper). Basically, there\u2019s been good improvement across the board, but if the Patriots land Brown \u2014 as I expect \u2014 they are better than they were last year, and I think that would put them over the top.<\/span><\/p>\n<div><span>Related<span>: <\/span><\/span>Kyle Williams promises to be \u2018night and day\u2019 different in his second NFL season<\/div>\n<p><span><b>Do you think they\u2019ve done enough or have enough now for a solid defensive tackle rotation even after the losses at the position?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>\u2014 Derek Richardson, Springfield<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>There are still a few veteran free agents out there, but in terms of impactful guys, they may be done for now. I dislike the loss of Khyiris Tonga. Smart and effective, he was the perfect complementary piece alongside Christian Barmore and Milton Williams as a run stopper. Moving forward, they\u2019re going to ask a lot from youngster Cory Durden. Durden played well as part of the rotation last year, but he figures to see a spike in playing time with Tonga gone. I\u2019d also expect Joshua Farmer, Dre\u2019Mont Jones, and Leonard Taylor to get more reps along the interior, with Jones also bouncing to an edge role as needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=930\">With ace Garrett Crochet on the mend, the Red Sox rotation has proven it has quality depth<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span><i>Some questions are edited for length or clarity.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brown has topped 1,000 receiving yards and played 13 or more games in each of the last four seasons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Patriots mailbag: Are there alternatives if a trade with the Eagles for A.J. 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