The New England Patriots have been active in 2026's free agency, both allowing their own free agents and others to go and signing additions. Numerous holes remain throughout the roster, however, and the draft and trades will likely be their best options for filling them.
One position that needs depth is wide receiver. Lou Scataglia of NFLspinzone has suggested that the Patriots draft Indiana's National Champion, Omar Cooper Jr., but he hasn't ruled out A.J. Brown either.
Brown has been the subject of numerous trade rumors this offseason, and they don't seem to want to go away. The Eagles may be willing to trade the 28-year-old top receiver, but getting the Patriots to ante up what they want is another matter altogether. Unless and until they can agree on the freight to send Brown north to Foxborough, the deal remains stalled.
Regardless, the Patriots would be well-advised to draft a young potential top receiver in the draft, whether or not they secure Brown's services. If they don't, it's an absolute necessity early on in the draft.
If they do, they still can't go wrong by further fortifying the position for the team's MVP-level quarterback, Drake Maye.
The Patriots need to add quality to their receiving corps, and this would accomplish that
The Patriots dumped their de facto No. 1 receiver, Stefon Diggs, this offseason. While they added a solid No. 2 option in free agent Romeo Doubs, the need for a No. 1 or close remains. A.J. Brown would be the optimum answer at this point, but that deal remains in suspended animation.
Scataglia has suggested the Patriots use a draft pick on Indiana's wide receiver, Omar Cooper Jr.
"After signing Romeo Doubs and cutting Stefon Diggs, the New England Patriots still clearly have a need at wide receiver. I do believe an AJ Brown trade could still be in the works, but the Pats could take this receiver room over the top by also adding Omar Cooper Jr."
The 6'0", 199-pound Cooper caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Champion Hoosiers in 2025. NFL.com cites his ability in their Overview of the player.
"Big, strong target whose two-year rise is bolstered by translatable tape. While he was a full-time slot receiver in 2025, Cooper has played outside, as well...He has potent early acceleration to climb past nickelbacks into top position to challenge deep.
His routes lack polish and he has average in-and-out quickness at break-points, but he’s rugged once the ball is in his hands. His ability to add yards after contact could earn Cooper more carries than we saw from him at Indiana."
Trading for A.J. Brown would give the Patriots a clear top receiver, whether at this stage of his career, the 28-year-old is a true No. 1 or a very solid No. 2A. He caught 78 passes for 1003 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.
He'd make up for a lot of Diggs' production and would provide another veteran leadership presence in the locker room, along with Mack Hollins.
ESPN rates Cooper as their second-best receiver in the NFL draft, so the cost in draft picks would likely be a first-round pick, if he's even available at pick No. 31 when the Patriots select. He also played slot in 2025, a position the Patriots seem set at with Pop Douglas and Efton Chism III available.
Regardless, as Scataglia suggests, the thought of adding both Brown and Cooper is enticing. Whether either is actually obtainable is the question. But it would be a nice duo to add, indeed.