Patriots Rumor A.J. Brown trade rumors heat up - Should Patriots get him?

[Grogan14]

Do NOT trade first round picks for aging veterans when the team is not ready to contend for a Super Bowl....period.

 

[upstater1]

But in the discussed scenario it’s a 2028 first, so how many of those huge needs will still exist after the 2027 free agency and draft have occurred, plus two years of development for the 2026 draftees and one year of development for the 2027 draftees?

Let’s say Lomu becomes a good starting right tackle and takes over for Moses, Raridon takes over for Henry, Jacas becomes a solid starting OLB, Gonzo and Maye get extended. What holes are still left? Onwenu is likely gone by then, but they will probably have drafted and developed a new guard by that point. Linebacker has needs, but they could use a high pick in 2027 on that. They still might need some depth, but they have two 5ths and four 6ths in 2027’s deep draft, so they will likely find some good role players next year along with hopefully a few good hits from 2026’s class.

I don’t want to just send away a 1st either but I don’t think losing one that’s two years from now is going to be a HUGE setback considering all that will occur between then and now.

What if they have a few key injuries in 2 years and have some bad luck in games and go 7-10 and end up with the 13th pick in the draft?

 

[Ross12]

What if they have a few key injuries in 2 years and have some bad luck in games and go 7-10 and end up with the 13th pick in the draft?

But would that be them “having a lot of holes”? Sounds like just a bad luck year.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Do NOT trade first round picks for aging veterans when the team is not ready to contend for a Super Bowl....period.

Why aren't we ready? With brown, I think overall we will be a damn good team next year. No reason to think we can't compete for a SB.

 

[TommyD4207]

What if they have a few key injuries in 2 years and have some bad luck in games and go 7-10 and end up with the 13th pick in the draft?

Then a lot more went wrong than trading a first round pick.

 

[pazrul72]

But in the discussed scenario it’s a 2028 first, so how many of those huge needs will still exist after the 2027 free agency and draft have occurred, plus two years of development for the 2026 draftees and one year of development for the 2027 draftees?

Let’s say Lomu becomes a good starting right tackle and takes over for Moses, Raridon takes over for Henry, Jacas becomes a solid starting OLB, Gonzo and Maye get extended. What holes are still left? Onwenu is likely gone by then, but they will probably have drafted and developed a new guard by that point. Linebacker has needs, but they could use a high pick in 2027 on that. They still might need some depth, but they have two 5ths and four 6ths in 2027’s deep draft, so they will likely find some good role players next year along with hopefully a few good hits from 2026’s class.

I don’t want to just send away a 1st either but I don’t think losing one that’s two years from now is going to be a HUGE setback considering all that will occur between then and now.

This is where I am at, if the ask was a 2027 first absolutely not, but a 2028 gives the Eagles the optics of getting good value while the Pats can load the **** up for a 3 year run before feeling that pain. I think the people who say we can't give away ANY first are missing how the team is currently constructed, there were a lot of bandaids that their contacts were smartly structured so if they were great we kept them 3 years and if they were just ok limited dead cap to cut them after 2. The Patriots could pretty easily get to 150 million in FA money for the next two years if they really really wanted to shoot their shot while Maye is on his rookie contract. AJ Brown is just one piece of that, that I trust Vrable and company to make the call on.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

So a 2050 round is worth more than a 2027 2nd round got it. Bunch of idiots

So trading a pick in 2029 when our franchise QB is 26 years old is totally the same thing as trading a pick in 2050. Great example.

Since the picks have the same value, do you think the Pats should have saved one of their 4th round picks and traded a 2029 1st?

 

[Water Boy]

I get the hesitancy with AJB with respect to his knee, attitude and fear of over compensation with draft capital given that it seems that we are the only team in the race. Under these circumstances a 2027 1st or more feels cringey.

That being said, it's undeniable that AJB has the potential to transform our offense. I'm sure the analytics would back it up.

Sometimes teams need to gamble for a huge upside play in order to reach full potential. Are we a real contender with our WR corp as currently constructed? Could AJB supercharge the passing game, especially with Doubs in the mix? Ask yourselves those questions.

Assumg we land AJB, I'm personally going to be very optimistic about our offense in 2026.

#We need a Numbah one receivah
#Long live the cult of verticality

 

[upstater1]

But would that be them “having a lot of holes”? Sounds like just a bad luck year.

I'm really talking about having that premium pick that makes a difference on your team. If you don't have it, you don't replenish the talent, you have holes.

That's how we got to the bad seasons in the first place.

We had multiple seasons without a first rounder in 2015-2019, due to punishments or trades. Sanu for a second rounder!

 

[upstater1]

Then a lot more went wrong than trading a first round pick.

? The 1st round pick is in 2 years. So we will have traded the valuable first round pick away after a bad year.

 

[Ross12]

I'm really talking about having that premium pick that makes a difference on your team. If you don't have it, you don't replenish the talent, you have holes.

That's how we got to the bad seasons in the first place.

We had multiple seasons without a first rounder in 2015-2019, due to punishments or trades. Sanu for a second rounder!

It's ultimately just one pick though. Our discussion spawned off your initial post which said "if the Patriots get rooked for a 1 for AJ Brown, it will set the team back a lot. This is a team with huge needs still." It seems like they are replenishing one of those needs with this single pick, and I was trying to illustrate that many other needs would likely be handled by the time that pick would be paid out, so I am not really sure what you were trying to say besides a general idea that trading firsts is bad.

Again, I'd like to see lower value going out too, or a pick coming back - we'll see what it ultimately ends up being.

 

[TommyD4207]

? The 1st round pick is in 2 years. So we will have traded the valuable first round pick away after a bad year.

??

If this team finishes 7-10, not having a first round pick will be the least of their problems. It means the bottom fell out. I don't want to trade a first round pick either, but ultimately, it's just one pick.

 

[PatsFan2]

??

If this team finishes 7-10, not having a first round pick will be the least of their problems. It means the bottom fell out. I don't want to trade a first round pick either, but ultimately, it's just one pick.

So happy it's going to be alright with you. Knowing how you feel keeps me up at nights.

 

[TommyD4207]

So happy it's going to be alright with you. Knowing how you feel keeps me up at nights.

 

[PatsFan2]

I get the hesitancy with AJB with respect to his knee, attitude and fear of over compensation with draft capital given that it seems that we are the only team in the race. Under these circumstances a 2027 1st or more feels cringey.

That being said, it's undeniable that AJB has the potential to transform our offense. I'm sure the analytics would back it up.

Sometimes teams need to gamble for a huge upside play in order to reach full potential. Are we a real contender with our WR corp as currently constructed? Could AJB supercharge the passing game, especially with Doubs in the mix? Ask yourselves those questions.

Assumg we land AJB, I'm personally going to be very optimistic about our offense in 2026.

#We need a Numbah one receivah
#Long live the cult of verticality

Obviously Mike Vrabel and his Bimbo agrees.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Is anyone gonna make an aj brown countdown app like they have for cruises youre going on?

 

[PatsFan2]

He might be raising a Lombardi courtesy of Mahomes this year. Like I said Fields is misunderstood.

 

[Ross12]

Part of the reason for the "+1 year = 1 round lower value" logic is because adding a year gives the team an additional year to plan. They can see the trajectory of their team, their roster, and their schedule and anticipate. They can use that time to construct their roster to be built to compete and not as precariously balanced upon one player (QBs of course notwithstanding, although I do think the team can still do decently with DeVito if need be).

Folks need to remember, in March we were talking about trading New England's 2026 1st. Specifically, Howie wanted their 2026 1st plus more. Now we are talking about a 2028 1st, by itself, nothing else. That is a massive decline. It is still a "1st" but it is two years later. The team will be two years built up and two years better. Many here would have been fine with trading a 2026 second round pick, but the fact is that the team will be much more reliant on their 2026 second round pick than they ultimately will be on their 2028 first round pick, because they will be a much better-built, deeper, more experienced team by that point.

 

[50-yard-line]

The Rams are perennial contenders now and how many 1st Round picks have they had over the last few years?

It's a different way of building a team, is all. The thing about the draft now is that it's really hard to keep your draftees at certain positions after their rookie deal...and since it usually takes a year for a rookie to come up to speed, sometimes more than that, how valuable do they really become? you can't be Cincinnati, paying three superstars and sucking almost everywhere else.

I hate trading 1st-Round picks, too...especially since next year looks like a really good draft. But I really don't know how you get a top-end WR other than paying the price. Marvin Harrison Jr. was a "can't miss" WR. He's got a 100 catches and 1400 yards!!!! IN TWO seasons.

If he does live up to the potential, he'll be looking for top-market money before his 5th year option. Bottom line: the draft remains a crap shoot.

PS. If they're going to throw 1st round picks into a deal, I still think they'd be better off with a superstar edge than a temperamental WR. Pay Gonzo and get a Houston-like pass rush and they'll be in the hunt for a SB.

 

[scott99]

Bottom line in my opinion, if trading for AJ Brown gets you a SB victory while he’s a Patriot, then I don’t care if they trade a 2028 first round pick for him. Also, we are in the Maye rookie contract era, get him as many good weapons as possible.

AJ Brown is big, strong, gets open, and has great hands. I know he’s not 25, but he’s still one of the best receivers in football.

It’s all about getting as much help for Maye, getting the best out of him, and of course it’s about winning.