The New England Patriots added an intriguing free agent wide receiver in Romeo Doubs earlier this offseason. With Stefon Diggs no longer on the roster, and Kayshon Boutte potentially next, his unique skill set to align both outside and in the slot was much needed.
Of course, the biggest news in the wide receiver room revolves around a potential trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for A.J. Brown. ESPN's Adam Schefter has made it clear that he expects a deal between the Patriots and Eagles for Brown to happen "on or shortly after June 1."
Since that hasn't happened yet, Bleacher Report's Alex Kay singled out one free agent wide receiver as a potential fit for the Patriots: Deebo Samuel.
"While Samuel wasn't a great fit in Washington and was limited by the lack of talent under center following Jayden Daniels' injury woes, he still managed to score six touchdowns on just 89 touches in 2025," Kay wrote. "He was a YAC machine — nearly two-thirds of his receiving yardage came after the catch — and he can be relied on to churn respectable gains if he gets the ball in space at his next stop. Any team seeking a versatile weapon who can line up at multiple offensive positions, as well as contribute on special teams, should have interest in Samuel."
The Patriots could pivot to Deebo Samuel if the A.J. Brown deal stalls
The Patriots could do far worse than pivoting to Deebo Samuel if the Brown trade falls through. He's been a solid receiver in his seven years in the NFL, mostly with San Francisco. Last season, he was productive for the Commanders with 72 catches for 727 yards and six total touchdowns (including one as a rusher).
Samuel, like Brown, is a bigger receiver at 6 feet and 215 pounds. The 30-year-old would add a veteran presence to the wide receiver room to complement Mack Hollins as an accomplished leader. And, as Kay noted, his positional versatility would fit the Patriots' vision in similar fashion to Doubs.
It's never a bad idea to have a contingency plan if your first option — in this case, A.J. Brown — falls through. While Brown is clearly the better option, Samuel's playmaking ability would add immediate value.
The Patriots clearly want to continue building around their franchise quarterback, and adding Brown would be an upgrade over last season's de facto No. 1 target, Stefon Diggs. The Patriots could do a lot worse than signing Deebo Samuel as a fallback plan if the Brown trade doesn't happen.
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