The New England Patriots’ trade for A.J. Brown was one of the NFL’s worst-kept secrets in recent memory, but it was necessary, even at the steep price of a future first-round pick along with a fifth-round sweetener.
The Patriots had selected at least one wide receiver in five consecutive drafts, resulting in mostly developmental players and roster afterthoughts. Their best pick of the bunch, Kayshon Boutte in 2023, was the subject of trade rumors all offseason, with Brown arriving as the team’s new No. 1 boundary receiver.
Even if Boutte does get moved this summer, the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart is loaded with Brown at the top. The team added Romeo Doubs in free agency and still has the do-it-all Mack Hollins primed for a major role. Kyle Williams, the team’s 2025 third-round draft pick, should be among the team’s roster locks, with DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism likely to stick on the roster as well.
None of that stopped the Patriots from being linked to the top wide receiver prospects in the 2026 draft. Patriots reporter Phil Perry, for example, tabbed early-round targets like KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, and Omar Cooper Jr. as ideal fits for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterback Drake Maye.
Concepcion was easily the most popular Patriots projection, especially after the team hosted the former Texas A&M standout on a pre-draft 30 visit. His skill set would have complemented Brown’s well as more of a “Z” receiver. Concepcion’s most common NFL comp was Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens, and it was fun to picture his dynamic playmaking abilities in this Patriots offense, especially with Brown demanding attention on the outside.
The Patriots, however, held the No. 31 pick in the first round after losing in Super Bowl LX. They would have needed Concepcion to slide to their preferred trade-up range, and he wound up going just beyond it — No. 24 overall to the Cleveland Browns. New England did make a trade up for tackle Caleb Lomu four picks later.
The early impressions of Concepcion have been positive in Cleveland, with coaches lauding the rookie’s ability to pick up the offense. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks recently tabbed Concepcion as a potential sleeper to win Offensive Rookie of the Year over higher-drafted players like Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, and Carnell Tate.
“Concepcion's speed, quickness and open-field running prowess make him an ideal fit for an offense that wants to feature more vertical routes and catch-and-run concepts under new head coach Todd Monken,” Brooks wrote.
“With Concepcion also offering big-play ability as a punt returner, the Browns' plans to put the ball in his hands via traditional and unconventional methods (fly sweeps, reverses and gadgets) should give him plenty of chances to post numbers that put him in the conversation as a top OROY candidate.”
Early KC Concepcion hype shouldn't make the Patriots regret their draft decision
Concepcion entered the draft with a fun profile, but it’s hard to slam the Patriots for not landing him. He went seven picks before their original draft slot, and while he brings a tantalizing skill set to the table, he isn’t the kind of polished prospect that compels a team to make a major draft-day trade.
His breakout season for the Aggies in 2025 included one major red flag — drops. According to Pro Football Focus, he dropped 19 passes over his three years in college, including seven of his 40 missed targets during his final season. Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reported this spring that, while Concepcion made plenty of plays during OTAs, his drop issues remain a work in progress.
To Brooks’ point, you’re also not making a major trade up the board for Concepcion unless you plan to use him as a punt returner. The Patriots already have arguably the best punt returner in the NFL in Marcus Jones.
Concepcion always felt like a long shot to slip past teams like the Browns, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Jets before the Patriots’ original pick at No. 31. Perhaps he would have been a consideration at No. 28 after a smaller trade up the board, but with Morgan Moses nearing the end of his career at age 35, targeting Lomu was probably always the bigger priority.
Plenty of Patriots fans were disappointed when the team passed on Flowers, the former Boston College star, in the 2023 draft. Wide receiver was a need then, too, but absolutely no one’s complaining about the decision to draft Christian Gonzalez instead. In three years, Lomu could be seeking his own extension as one of the franchise’s new cornerstone players.
With Brown clearly en route and set to arrive in Foxboro on June 1, Concepcion was always more of a want than a need during April's draft. The Patriots’ revamped wide receiver room includes a major trade acquisition, key free agent signings, and recent draft picks. There are no longer any excuses. This group will be expected to produce in 2026, and the guess here is that it will.
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