To say that A.J. Brown's New England Patriots debut didn't go as planned wouldn't tell half the story. The former Philadelphia Eagles player suffered a high-ankle injury and was placed on Injured Reserve after Week 1.
Brown will be back for the most crucial stretch of the season, but he's looking at 4-6 weeks on the shelf. Given the team's aspirations, it didn't take long for talking heads and fans to start speculating about potential moves.
Notably, that includes Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox. In his latest article, he listed the Patriots as potential landing spots for Brandon Aiyuk, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jerry Jeudy. To that, we say 'No, thanks.'
The Patriots' wide receiver corps should be just fine
For starters, none of these trade targets are particularly appealing. They all have upside, of course, and might look good on the surface, but the red flags are too big to ignore. This team doesn't need fool's gold.
Thomas might be enticing if the price is right, but it's hard to believe the Jacksonville Jaguars would give him up at a discount. Jeudy is a failed first-round pick who, albeit still young, isn't coachable and hasn't lived up to the hype. As for Aiyuk, let's not even get there.
Of course, losing a player of Brown's caliber is a big blow, but head coach Mike Vrabel literally said that Kayshon Boute would've been a healthy inactive if it weren't for the trade. Maybe that was a bit of a reach, but it doesn't mean he was lying.
Romeo Doubs' debut was ugly, but he should be doing much better. DeMario Douglas is a proven playmaker, and Mack Hollins is the team's big-play threat. Drake Maye can also count on Hunter Henry to move the chains between the numbers.
The Patriots reportedly won't change their offensive game plan without Brown. Josh McDaniels is a savvy play-caller who knows how to get the passing game into a groove, and TreVeyon Henderson's return from injury should also work wonders for the offense.
This team reached the Super Bowl without Brown. He's an add-on, something to help elevate Maye's game and give the team a bona fide, blue-chip weapon. But the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and it's way too early to talk about panic moves.
Their teams wouldn't give them away if they were difference-makers, so why would the Patriots have to pay a premium for spare parts?
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