If AJ Brown finally joins, where does that leave us in the draft?

[RobertWeathers]

He is overpriced, in the final phase of his career, and he has an arthritic knee. For a team midway in a rebuild, it is far wiser to expend your resources on a player who will not be limping around on Miami Beach when you really need him, on a draftee or on a younger vet. In my opinion, our collective view as to where we are in the rebuild (from straight-up garbage) is skewed by the fact we made it to the SB this year. I would bet, if I were a bettor, that we won't even sniff the SB next year, when we will have a representative schedule rather than the parade of mediocrities - at best for the most part - we faced last season.

At this point in the rebuild, we ought to focus on draft and develop rather than onsnatching at short-term baubles for which we really have no legitimateruse, as we might if we were the proverbial "player or two away." That is simply not our situation.

They went to the Super Bowl last year. That means they are a legit contender. Since then they have added better players. There is still the draft with their dozen picks. There are still more players to sign. I fear you are acting like it'll take years to rebuild/build the perfect team. They aren't giving up first rounders here. A 2nd and a 4th is nothing for a WR1.

The time is now.

 

[PatsFan2]

Wi

The trade would not happen until June, so 2026 picks are unaffected.

Win win for us.

 

[PatsFan2]

Does drafting a receiver loose it's urgency?

Draft a Guy Caldwell - Sturdivant or Josh Cameron. Boutte and Hollins are gone after this season.

 

[stinkypete]

If we were to land Brown, no, I would not expect more than a late round flier on a WR.

But count me among those uninterested in sending a 1st round pick in any year for Brown.

 

[reflexblue]

Today Wolfe didn't rule out bringing Diggs back

''Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf spoke with the media on Thursday and didn’t completely rule out a situation where the Patriots re-sign Diggs this offseason.''

 

[Headcase]

They could get clever and trade their 2027 1st rd to pick to NE for NE 2026 1st rd pick only for NE to trade them back their 2027 1st Rd for AJ Brown after June.

The league would almost certainly veto that trade.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

If we were to land Brown, no, I would not expect more than a late round flier on a WR.

But count me among those uninterested in sending a 1st round pick in any year for Brown.

This makes good sense if getting Brown is truly a sure thing. After the Crosby situation I would prefer that Pats draft the BPA if a difference making WR presents itself and keep the plan of trading for Brown open if nothing happens in the draft.

 

[Love The Drake]

That sounded more like lip service on Diggs, but I think the off field stuff concerns them more than they let on.

 

[Hyped]

No thanks. I think we are good with:

Doubs, Boutte, Hollis, and Williams going deep with Pop and Chisom cleaning up underneath.

 

[BadMoFo]

So if we draft a receiver in Round 1 or 2, there will be no AJ Brown trade, correct?

 

[hornetfb85]

They could get clever and trade their 2027 1st rd to pick to NE for NE 2026 1st rd pick only for NE to trade them back their 2027 1st Rd for AJ Brown after June.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Not with picks that high. I don't think the NFL will allow that, because then the picks couldn't convey until June which would be impossible.

Plus they probably can't draft players for PHI with those picks. There is a "rookie allocation" within the salary cap based on picks teams make during the draft. If a team trades for a rookie, the cap space for that slot doesn't come with them.

The only reason it worked for Manning/Rivers was their hits were fairly close, being 1 and 4 IIRC.

The rookie draft wage scale didn’t start until 2011. Manning drafted in 2004, wouldn’t have applied anyway?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Without getting into all financial ramifications, back to the original question in a hypothetical scenario.
WR would still be a need.
Brown is 29?
Boutte and Pop on their last year.
It would certainly lessen the need, but I would still think adding 1 WR would be prudent. Just might drive the need to a later rd swing on an upside WR, someone like Caldwell.

 

[Dec54]

So if we draft a receiver in Round 1 or 2, there will be no AJ Brown trade, correct?

Draft anyone in rounds 1 and 2 and there will probably be no AJ Brown trade

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The rookie draft wage scale didn’t start until 2011. Manning drafted in 2004, wouldn’t have applied anyway?

The current rookie wage scale was put in place in 2011. The rookie salary cap-within-a-cap I'm referring to predates that.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

The current rookie wage scale was put in place in 2011. The rookie salary cap-within-a-cap I'm referring to predates that.

Good to know. Was unaware.

 

[Huckleberry1]

This makes good sense if getting Brown is truly a sure thing. After the Crosby situation I would prefer that Pats draft the BPA if a difference making WR presents itself and keep the plan of trading for Brown open if nothing happens in the draft.

The end of the first round is actually shaping up pretty well for the Patriots. I agree with BPA, and they could have some good options at positions if need there. There is still some rising and falling to occur, but there could be some offensive tackles, e.g.... Miller and Iheanachor, off the ball linebackers, e.g... C.J. Allen and Anthony Hill, Wide Receivers e.h.. Denzel Boston , K. C. Concepcion. as well as some other good prospects at other positions. The most interesting one of which could be Chris Bell, a big fast WR out of Louisville who will still be recovering from an ACL tear going into 26 season, but who long term could be a steal at 31.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

The end of the first round is actually shaping up pretty well for the Patriots. I agree with BPA, and they could have some good options at positions if need there. There is still some rising and falling to occur, but there could be some offensive tackles, e.g.... Miller and Iheanachor, off the ball linebackers, e.g... C.J. Allen and Anthony Hill, Wide Receivers e.h.. Denzel Boston , K. C. Concepcion. as well as some other good prospects at other positions. The most interesting one of which could be Chris Bell, a big fast WR out of Louisville who will still be recovering from an ACL tear going into 26 season, but who long term could be a steal at 31.

Didn’t see a single Louisville game the past of years, so can’t provide any meaningful comments on Bell.
From a measurable standpoint he looks comparable to AJ?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I'm thinking offensive line either way but really best available player at 31

 

[n1997y]

The end of the first round is actually shaping up pretty well for the Patriots. I agree with BPA, and they could have some good options at positions if need there. There is still some rising and falling to occur, but there could be some offensive tackles, e.g.... Miller and Iheanachor, off the ball linebackers, e.g... C.J. Allen and Anthony Hill, Wide Receivers e.h.. Denzel Boston , K. C. Concepcion. as well as some other good prospects at other positions. The most interesting one of which could be Chris Bell, a big fast WR out of Louisville who will still be recovering from an ACL tear going into 26 season, but who long term could be a steal at 31.

But what they really need is edge.