The New England Patriots are now officially into the offseason, and moves are being made both to release 2025 players and acquire new ones. One top 2025 performer who was cut in a salary dump was the team's top wide receiver, Stefon Diggs.
That will save about $16.8M on the salary cap. To get a No. 1 receiver to replace Diggs is important. Former Patriots' great Rob Gronkowski thinks a trade for the Eagles' A.J. Brown will help them remain in contention in the AFC.
The Patriots have signed a solid free-agent receiver in Romeo Doubs from the Packers. He had a decent 2025 season with 55 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns. He's not going to fill that elusive No. 1 spot, though.
Diggs was the team's No. 1 last season with a respectable 85 catches for 1013 yards and four touchdowns. Those are solid stats, but even they don't qualify for that vaunted true No. 1 receiver hat. The next closest was Mack Hollins with 46 catches for 550 yards and two touchdowns. Hollins and Doubs will be the 2/3's, but the team still needs that true No. 1.
Rob Gronkowski is spot on that A.J. Brown qualifies as a No.1 receiver
Gronk knows the NFL, and he's a dedicated former Patriot who cares about his old team's interests. Recently, on the "Up and Adams Show", he made his feelings about the Patriots and A.J. Brown crystal clear.
Gronk says the Patriots NEED to trade for WR A.J. Brown to remain contenders in the AFC 🗣️@RobGronkowski | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/hLwf0hRZR1
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 10, 2026
Brown may not be the only guy the Patriots could trade for as a No. 1, but he'd certainly fit the bill. The 28-year-old Brown is a perennial 1,000-yard receiver. He only missed that mark once during his seven-year career in 2021 when he played in just 13 games. He's also had seasons with 88 and 106 catches.
In 2025, he caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns from Jalen Hurts. Hurts is a good quarterback, but he's no Drake Maye as a passer. If Brown comes aboard, expect well over 1,000 yards and closer to 90-100 catches. His potential with an accurate passer like Maye throwing him the rock is through the roof.
Whether the Patriots and the Eagles can get together on a deal is a whole other story. Brown will be expensive in draft picks and/or players. A No.1 pick this year will likely be necessary and more.
He'd be worth that pick plus, and if the Patriots can include a good player like Rhamondre Stevenson, all the better.
If the Patriots can land A. J. Brown and fix their offensive line, they'll be primed to compete for all the marbles again in 2026.