The Patriots were among the top teams heading into free agency this offseason in need of wide receiver upgrades, yet they waited until Tuesday afternoon to sign their first one. That's when it was announced that longtime Packer Romeo Doubs was making his way to Foxboro, and fans inevitably got worried about what that might mean for their trade chances to get AJ Brown.
The current Eagles star has been the talk of the town for months now, specifically since Mike Vrabel became the Patriots' head coach last year. And because the Eagles have toyed with the possibility of trading Brown, the speculation has only heightened.
So that made some fans worry about Doubs' signing, but almost immediately, a few NFL insiders, with the latest being Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, have emphasized that the Patriots are still very much in the mix for Brown and will continue to pursue him for the right price.
I’m told Romeo Doubs signing with Patriots DOES NOT end their interest in trading for A.J. Brown.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 10, 2026
Obviously WR need isn’t as dire so dynamics change a bit and maybe ultimately they don’t land him because of high price. But they still love A.J. https://t.co/jMhImcp6Vr
This is music to many Patriots' fans' ears, even if it doesn't necessarily mean a trade is anywhere near getting done.
There is still a big need for a clear WR1 on the Patriots roster
Although Patriots fans have had mixed reactions to Doubs' arrival, he is considered a great signing for their receiving corps, who can play like Stefon Diggs but is much younger and cheaper. That puts some concerns to rest after they chose to release the veteran last week, and should add some excitement about what Doubs can do with Drake Maye.
He has been key in the red zone, an area the Patriots have been weak in over the last few years, and that will become invaluable during next season. But it's clear that Doubs isn't the needle-mover in the way that the team needs, so a trade for someone like Brown still makes a lot of sense.
Given his connection to Mike Vrabel from their time in Tennessee, it's difficult to imagine that the head coach will give up on his pursuit of the receiver, unless the Eagles decide to formally take him off the table and/or don't take any more calls regarding his availability.
There is a chance they won't trade him until after the June 1 deadline, as they save much more in dead cap by waiting than by trading him now, which might require some patience from New England fans, even if that will be difficult to do.
No matter what, a trade is not off the table according to multiple insiders, and that is a good sign not only for the fans but for the team itself. Maye needs more weapons to work with in 2026, and Vrabel and Eliot Wolf need to make sure they provide him with them.