The addition of wide receiver Romeo Doubs was a highlight of free agency for the Patriots this year, but they are far from done adding to their receiving corps for the 2026 season. That is especially true since they released Stefon Diggs last month, on top of the ongoing rumors connecting them to a possible AJ Brown trade.
The current Eagles superstar appears to be the end-all, be-all to address their offensive woes, and while he would be a phenomenal addition, there are other players they could consider, like top prospects in the upcoming draft.
Better yet, why not get their own AJ Brown-like player in the second round?
That's something CBS Sports' J.P. Acosta believes the Patriots will have a chance to do, with Louisville's Chris Bell likely falling into the second round. They might have to trade up for him, but because he's already being compared to Brown, that's enough reason to do just that.
There might be a big reason for the Patriots to consider a receiver in the second round
In an article detailing some of the most undervalued prospects in this month's draft, Acosta mentioned Bell, a wide receiver out of Louisville who was once considered a first-round pick before he tore his ACL last season.
That inevitably decreases his draft value, only because of his rehab process, and it's possible he could fall into the Patriots' lap at No. 63, or they could trade up, and add who Acosta believes has many traits of Brown already.
"At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Bell might've run in the 4.3s if he didn't tear his ACL toward the end of the season. His skill set at that size is really intriguing on the boundary as an X receiver. He constantly improved as the season went on, showcasing more of an ability to win against press with his size and has a second gear to threaten teams vertically.
However, where he's at his best is after the catch. He's a bully with the ball in his hands, using his size and speed to take crossing routes to the end zone (just ask Miami)."
Based on his description, it's hard to argue against the Patriots taking a shot and adding Bell to the offense for Drake Maye to work with.
Of course, the lingering injury is concerning, but it didn't prevent them from bringing in Diggs last offseason, so this shouldn't deter them from considering Bell, either.
Other than that potential worry, there's plenty to like about Bell and how his play would immediately boost the receiving corps they have for the 2026 season. His size and speed are desirable traits, and he's already being compared to a Pro Bowl-level player before setting foot on an NFL field.
If they can get that kind of production out of him and not have to trade multiple picks to get him, as they would with Brown, it might be more worthwhile to do that and have Bell grow with Maye for more years than consider a trade with the Eagles.
It would be putting a lot of trust in Bell to live up to the hype, but he showed he can be the kind of weapon Maye could utilize during his college career and, just like Kayshon Boutte was during his draft, was once considered a first-round talent.
That means something and he could become a valuable asset on the Patriots offense.
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