It's another point in a season when Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is in the middle of some drama, and trade rumors stir up again.
Although he is responsible for the latest controversy due to his answer about what needs to improve with the offense, the saga has been ongoing since Philadelphia's latest win in Week 14. It's made out to be even worse since this isn't the first time there has been a public problem between the receiver and the team, leading to even more rumors of a potential trade incoming.
A.J.Brown had one word when asked what Philly needs to improve on offense 👀 pic.twitter.com/pEIHFPtnCO
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 9, 2024
While that might be far-fetched given how talented and valuable Brown is to the Eagles team, nothing is off limits in the NFL, and we've seen that over the years regarding wide receivers and the teams willing to trade them in their prime, including Brown.
That could mean the Patriots will have an opportunity to swoop in and make a call, hoping to acquire the receiver that got away from them from the beginning. It has been a decision that has haunted the organization since Bill Belichick chose the draft N'Keal Harry instead, passing on guys like Brown, Deebo Samuel, and more.
Patriots could make a blockbuster trade for the WR1 the offense desperately needs
With the 2025 offseason right around the corner, the Patriots have been named the favorites to sign pending free agent receiver Tee Higgins. He will be one of the top names for receiver-needy teams to sign next year, and because New England is set to have the most cap space to spend and the Bengals' apparent unwillingness to sign the former second-rounder to an extension, the Patriots will have good odds to get the WR1 they need.
But there's also a lot of doubt about the team getting the deal done with Higgins, mainly due to the projected trajectory of their immediate future. Although the rise of rookie quarterback Drake Maye will draw offensive players in, they're not expected to be a winning team any time soon, therefore making it difficult decision for upcoming free agents.
If they want to chase the money, New England will be the team to sign with. If they want to believe in the potential of a team and credit their history for what they could become, Foxboro could be the one to consider.
However, if any receiver, including Higgins, wants to go after a Super Bowl, plenty of other teams in the mix might be more worth their time. In that case, trading for a guy like Brown would fix the Patriots' problem much faster.
He's the type of player who has evaded the team for several years and would be an immediate upgrade for their receiving corps moving forward. He wouldn't be cheap, but his production level is exactly what Maye deserves to work with, and the two could drastically makeover an otherwise lackluster offense.
Because the incoming rookie class isn't deep on wide receiver, getting this move done would make even more sense. The Patriots could trade their second rounder to get Brown, assuming the Eagles would accept that and not worry about the position for several years. Adding him to a room led by DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, and Hunter Henry would make for a nearly impeccable group for Maye to work with.
How could the Patriots not, at the very least, entertain the idea, especially with so many questions surrounding the right fits of the new regime?