All offseason long, as soon as it was made clear that the Eagles were willing to trade wide receiver AJ Brown, the Patriots have been the frontrunners to get a deal done to finally get the high-caliber playmaker on the roster. That remains the case just a few weeks before a trade is expected to be completed, and the assumption is that an unofficial agreement has been made between the two teams.
Although there is a chance that's not what has happened behind the scenes, and there are teams who could swoop in and steal Brown from the Patriots' grasp, it looks like only a matter of time before the four-time Pro Bowler is making his way to Foxboro.
But what if that's not what happens? What if the worst-case scenario happens, and what essentially looked like a done deal ends up falling apart?
The Eagles could ultimately change their minds, or they could receive a better offer from another team, leaving the Patriots with nothing. It would be an absolute nightmare, and they'd likely have to wait until the 2027 offseason to upgrade their receiving corps.
And while that's far from ideal, they just got word on who their top target should be: George Pickens.
If the Patriots fail to trade for AJ Brown, it's clear who they should shift their focus to
The current Cowboys receiver has been connected to the Patriots throughout the offseason, mostly as an alternative to Brown if the Eagles decide they want to keep him around for another season.
Because the conversation has shifted to Brown joining the Patriots after June 1, Pickens has been put on the back burner, especially after Dallas franchise tagged him earlier this offseason.
But there isn't much optimism that he will play for the Cowboys beyond the 2026 season, with the latest intel from NFL insider James Palmer suggesting that is the truth, and Pickens will head to free agency next year. And in that case, the Patriots have the perfect fallback plan if Brown isn't traded.
NFL Insider James Palmer says the chances of the Cowboys extending George Pickens are "close to zero" 👀@JamesPalmerTV | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/SlMOUPkKPt
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 19, 2026
Obviously, this doesn't help their situation for the upcoming season, and that would be a massive problem for Drake Maye and the offense. But that could point them back to re-signing Stefon Diggs or to other free agents to target. Or maybe even look into a trade for Brian Thomas Jr. from the Jaguars.
Regardless, if a Brown trade doesn't come to fruition, Pickens should be on their radar, maybe even ahead of this season's trade deadline.
It would be wise for the Cowboys to move him for some compensation if they don't plan to extend him, rather than watching him walk in free agency next year. That could become a big opportunity for New England, and it's not something they can pass on.
Sure, Pickens isn't Brown, but he's younger and could work with Maye longer, while still being a massive game-changer in the way the Patriots need, and that's more than enough reason to seriously inquire about bringing him in.
Ideally, they won't have to do that because Brown will be traded in a few weeks. But we'll have to wait and see what happens before eliminating Pickens from the list.
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