Patriots Interested In WR A.J. Brown

As PFR’s Ben Levine noted in his Patriots Offseason Outlook, Diggs is not a lock to be back in Foxborough. The mercurial veteran is due see $6MM of his 2026 compensation become guaranteed March 13. Diggs’ cap number climbs from $10.5MM last year to $26.5MM in 2026, putting a separation on the radar. But the Patriots could potentially keep Diggs and add another impact veteran.

The team is interested in reuniting Mike Vrabel and A.J. Brown, MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian and Mark Daniels report. Vrabel coached Brown for three seasons with the Titans and was not believed to be happy when the team traded the high-end WR during the 2022 draft.

Brown has been a persistent issue in Philadelphia, but the former Tennessee standout has been one of the most productive skill-position players in Eagles history. Going into an age-29 season, he would be a valuable piece in a trade. Nick Sirianni stopped short of guaranteeing Brown would be back, and the Eagles are prepared to listen to offers.

Philly is believed to be setting a high price on Brown, who has gone 4-for-4 — despite bemoaning his role in the offense at various points — in 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the team. It might take first- and second-round picks — at least, that may be the asking price — to pry Brown from the NFC East club. That would be a difficult move for a team to make for a receiver with seven years’ experience, but Brown’s option bonus-laden contract runs through the 2029 season. That would be valuable for a team, should it feel comfortable acquiring the high-maintenance performer.

Despite a massive dead money number if the Eagles were to trade Brown before June 1, the team is expected to make a decision by March 9 — when the legal tampering period begins. Trading Brown before June 1 would level the Eagles with a 43.45MM dead cap charge, a record for his position. They would also lose $20.12MM in spending room. Meanwhile, an acquiring team would have to take on what’s left of the three-year, $96MM extension Brown signed before the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning 2024 campaign.

The Patriots would be picking up a $29MM guarantee on Brown’s 2026 money, but little locked-in compensation exists in this contract beyond this coming season. As PFR’s Connor Byrne noted in his Eagles Offseason Outlook, the team moving on before March 13 would allow them to pass a $4MM 2027 guarantee for the wideout to another club. Option bonuses worth $19.41MM, $29.36MM and $28.32MM are in place for 2027, ’28 and ’29, per Spotrac. The Eagles rely heavily on option bonuses for cap purposes. That will make moving Brown now difficult for the perennial contender.

A need may exist for the Patriots to restructure Diggs’ contract, per Guregian and Daniels. The Pats could reduce Diggs’ $20.6MM 2026 salary by moving money into a signing bonus, thus increasing the dead money hit in 2027. It would be unlikely Diggs will be keen on accepting a pay cut after being the runaway receiving leader on an AFC champion, but the Pats look to be trying to get the 32-year-old WR’s cap hit down. Diggs also faces a potential suspension for an alleged assault. He pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges earlier this month.

New England has rookie-deal wideouts Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas signed for one more season apiece. Mack Hollins‘ two-year, $8.4MM contract also runs through 2026. Holding just more than $40MM in cap space, the Patriots have also been linked to Maxx Crosby in a trade. It would be highly unlikely New England could acquire both, but a Brown resolution figures to come before Crosby, whom the Raiders want to retain. Crosby is also in the process of recovering from knee surgery.

In addition to creating a massive dead money figure, the Eagles would have a major receiving need alongside DeVonta Smith. Philly’s aerial attack has run through Brown, Smith and Dallas Goedert for four seasons now. Goedert is due for free agency next month. While Howie Roseman is one of the most aggressive GMs in NFL history, the Eagles remember being deficient at receiver not too long ago. Misses on JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Jalen Reagor left Philly in need as the Carson Wentz era ended, and the Smith and Brown moves turned the position into a strength.

For his issues with the Eagles’ passing game at times, Brown spoke highly of his current employer recently. Will the Eagles cash out on Brown in his 20s and move back into unknown territory at wideout? It appears we are close to finding out.