The New England Patriots released their best 2025 receiver, Stefon Diggs, in a salary cap dump. They've signed a solid young No. 2 receiver with great potential in Romeo Doubs from Green Bay. Yet, no one right now is going to say he's going to step into Diggs' shoes as the Patriots' No. 1, 2026 receiver.
A trade for A.J. Brown would get that done, but it's still an iffy proposition.
That means there's still a major hole at the top of the chart there. One way to fill it would be to trade for the Eagles' receiver, Brown. It's been a long-time subject of discussion, but circumstances might not allow it to happen until after June 1 due to salary cap considerations, if it happens at all. That uncertainty at a key position is not a great look for the Patriots' 2026 offense.
In light of that situation, Ernesto Cova of Chowder and Champions has suggested a free agent signing who could be a nice but costly addition to the Patriots. It's 28-year-old wide receiver Jauan Jennings from San Francisco. He'd be a nice add, but there are strings attached.
Jajuan Jennings is solid receiver, but not the No. 1 the Patriots need right now
Diggs filled the de facto No. 1 receiver position for the Patriots last season. He notched 85 catches for over 1000 yards. Those stats are close to what you'd want to see from your No. 1 receiver, though more is always better. Jennings is a big target at 6'3" and 212 pounds.
Yet, in his 5-year career with the 49ers, he's never had more than 77 catches for 975 yards, which he got in 2024.
Cova's suggestion of adding Jauan Jennings comes with some very heavy strings attached.
"According to Spotrac, Jennings is projected to sign a three-year deal worth $67.8 million. Admittedly, that projected price tag of $22.6 million a year might be a little too high for a player who has yet to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season, which could be playing into why he remains unsigned.
That said, the Patriots have $35.2 million in available cap space, so they can definitely afford to get the hunt for the wideout, if they so choose."
That's big money for a receiver who'd slot in as a second No. 2 along with Doubs. Now teams can do well without a true No. 1, but when you have a potential MVP quarterback on hand, like the Patriots do with Drake Maye, not having one of the very best is an omission that will have huge negative implications for your offensive production.
Jauan Jennings could be a fallback if the Brown deal isn't feasible. But he's no A.J. Brown. Regardless, the team has to make provisions to add a receiver since their unit, as it now stands, is worse than the 2025 version.
If it's not going to be Brown, it could be the costly Jennings as a another No. 2, or maybe they'll try taking a receiver early in the draft, which is always a crapshoot. NFL personnel guys make big bucks. Getting decisions like this right is why.