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

Real fan 02 · Feb 28, 2026

Vindicate said:
I would love for Chism to disappear with this deal so we can move on from this idea that he needs more snaps constantly popping up.

Douglas would likely be the odd man out.. Chism seems to fit more in the offensive structure..

Real fan 02 · Feb 28, 2026

mgteich said:
1) No approval from Diggs is necessary to "restructure" his contract. Overthecap indicate a saving of about $10M through restructuring.

2) When many posters use the word "restructure', they often mean taking a pay cut. That is a different strategy.

Restructuring doesn't necessarily mean taking a pay cut player's all over the league I think Mahomes Restructuring from his mega deal a few years ago for example.. Diggs will likely be given an incentive laden deal that he's comfortable with.. and that helps the team this season.. the guaranteed money is what truly matters to a player.

Real fan 02 · Feb 28, 2026

Dec54 said:
Diggs and Brown together

ViperGTS · Feb 28, 2026

With his contract, I would only trade a 3rd round pick for him. He will be 29 when they start the year.

TheRainMaker · Feb 28, 2026

Triumph said:
But Diggs has to restructure his contract.

Thats where the rubber hits the road.

He'd have to take a pay cut which is what I'm sure you meant.

TheRainMaker · Feb 28, 2026

Real fan 02 said:
Restructuring doesn't necessarily mean taking a pay cut player's all over the league I think Mahomes Restructuring from his mega deal a few years ago for example.. Diggs will likely be given an incentive laden deal that he's comfortable with.. and that helps the team this season.. the guaranteed money is what truly matters to a player.

Restructure means Diggs still gets his money, it's just accounted for differently in the salary cap. One way or another, they have to pay up eventually.

"A typical contract restructure is when a team converts part of a player’s base salary (or a roster bonus) into a signing bonus to create immediate cap relief. This does, however, increase the player’s yearly cap hits thereafter by pushing more dead money into future years."

Contract Language | NFL Football Operations

Complete guide to NFL contract terms, salary structures, and player compensation rules.

operations.nfl.com

dliverey44 · Feb 28, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
Restructure means Diggs still gets his money, it's just accounted for differently in the salary cap. One way or another, they have to pay up eventually.

"A typical contract restructure is when a team converts part of a player’s base salary (or a roster bonus) into a signing bonus to create immediate cap relief. This does, however, increase the player’s yearly cap hits thereafter by pushing more dead money into future years."

Contract Language | NFL Football Operations

Complete guide to NFL contract terms, salary structures, and player compensation rules.

operations.nfl.com

Great link, thanks

Here is another by Over the cap Restructure Potential | Over the Cap

LightSkinSmurf · Feb 28, 2026

We've seen how much better a QB can look when he has a true number 1 many times over. Rather you NEED one or not is a silly argument to me. You can win in many different ways. We all know that. The fact we actually have a QB capable of making those amazing throws just makes me want one more, not less. We didn't need much of an offense at all to make the SB... I wouldn't bank on that two seasons in a row.

Real fan 02 · Feb 28, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
Restructure means Diggs still gets his money, it's just accounted for differently in the salary cap. One way or another, they have to pay up eventually.

"A typical contract restructure is when a team converts part of a player’s base salary (or a roster bonus) into a signing bonus to create immediate cap relief. This does, however, increase the player’s yearly cap hits thereafter by pushing more dead money into future years."

Contract Language | NFL Football Operations

Complete guide to NFL contract terms, salary structures, and player compensation rules.

operations.nfl.com

100% spot on.. excellent post Rain... that's exactly what i was trying to say in my post..in other words Vrabel loves Diggs and realizes everything he endured from his rehab to how he performed on the field amongst his leadership. Unless something transpire additional off the field as I've mentioned in previous post I see Diggs remaining. Doesn't mean we don't stop adding at WR.. because we should with or without diggs.

upstater1 · Feb 28, 2026

Real fan 02 said:
Douglas would likely be the odd man out.. Chism seems to fit more in the offensive structure..

Douglas is so much more explosive than Chism. The reason why Douglas is not a focus anymore like he was 2 years ago is that we've stopped going to the slot. We are a downfield throwing team. Chism is not a downfield guy and he doesn't have Douglas's explosiveness.

imahobgoblin · Feb 28, 2026

ViperGTS said:
With his contract, I would only trade a 3rd round pick for him. He will be 29 when they start the year.

Why would the Eagles do that?

mgteich · Feb 28, 2026

upstater1 said:
Douglas is so much more explosive than Chism. The reason why Douglas is not a focus anymore like he was 2 years ago is that we've stopped going to the slot. We are a downfield throwing team. Chism is not a downfield guy and he doesn't have Douglas's explosiveness.

Let's be real. In his career, Chism has had 4 receptions. He may or may not make the team in 2026.

Douglas has been a minor contributor and has indeed been explosive. He is miles and miles more likely to contribute than Chism, and contributed more than Williams.

If we add someone, it is not all clear that we would or should keep either of Douglas or Chism. After all, the point of upgrades is to make the team better by substituting a new player for someone presently on the roster.

COMING INTO 2025, Vrabel didn't know if Diggs could carry a full load early in the season. He didn't know how anyone but Diggs and Hollins would fit into Josh's system, or how quickly.

We quickly found out that Boutte was one of our top 3.

Josh got very little out of the rest, although of course, Williams was a rookie and it is reasonable for him to take time to learn to be a contributing NFL receiver.

Real fan 02 · Feb 28, 2026

upstater1 said:
Douglas is so much more explosive than Chism. The reason why Douglas is not a focus anymore like he was 2 years ago is that we've stopped going to the slot. We are a downfield throwing team. Chism is not a downfield guy and he doesn't have Douglas's explosiveness.

Agreed. Pop made some big plays this season and had a nice TD in the playoffs.. I was under the notion like many of us when Josh came back that pop would thrive.. pop is still a useful weapon but I'm wondering if he'll be a priority going forward?

upstater1 · Feb 28, 2026

mgteich said:
Let's be real. In his career, Chism has had 4 receptions. He may or may not make the team in 2026.

Douglas has been a minor contributor and has indeed been explosive. He is miles and miles more likely to contribute than Chism, and contributed more than Williams.

If we add someone, it is not all clear that we would or should keep either of Douglas or Chism. After all, the point of upgrades is to make the team better by substituting a new player for someone presently on the roster.

COMING INTO 2025, Vrabel didn't know if Diggs could carry a full load early in the season. He didn't know how anyone but Diggs and Hollins would fit into Josh's system, or how quickly.

We quickly found out that Boutte was one of our top 3.

Josh got very little out of the rest, although of course, Williams was a rookie and it is reasonable for him to take time to learn to be a contributing NFL receiver.

The problem of course is jettisoning a young guy like Douglas, who has a 20% chance of becoming like a Troy Bown, for Hollins and Diggs who are into their 30s. I hesitate on giving up on a guy like Douglas given the late blooming success for small guys that we've had in the past.

I know Douglas will likely never play the role that Troy, Wes and Julian played for us, but they all came on in their 5th year of their careers

Family · Feb 28, 2026

Ross12 said:
In a scenario where Brown and Diggs are rostered together, I do wonder who gets dropped. They’d seemingly have too many guys at WR:

Brown
Diggs
Boutte
Hollins
Williams
Chism
Douglas

It might be Diggs OR Boutte. Douglas/Chism aren't even in the top 5 adding AJ.

How much is Boutte going to get? I know he has a year left, but if they're planning on keeping him, the team can't want to let him play into free agency.

That's the problem, with Diggs getting big $$$ now. It limits their chance to be flexible enough to acquire a real #1.

imahobgoblin · Feb 28, 2026

upstater1 said:
The problem of course is jettisoning a young guy like Douglas, who has a 20% chance of becoming like a Troy Bown, for Hollins and Diggs who are into their 30s. I hesitate on giving up on a guy like Douglas given the late blooming success for small guys that we've had in the past.

I know Douglas will likely never play the role that Troy, Wes and Julian played for us, but they all came on in their 5th year of their careers

Where the heck are you getting that Pop has a 20% chance of being a decorated football player inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame (2012), College Football Hall of Fame (2010), Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame (2002), and the SC Football Hall of Fame, a 3-time Super Bowl champion (2001, 2003, 2004), and 2001 Pro Bowler? Brown retired as our all-time leading receiver. What authority to you have to pull out of your wahzoo that Pop has a 20% chance to be that as well? Seriously?

imahobgoblin · Feb 28, 2026

Family said:
It might be Diggs OR Boutte. Douglas/Chism aren't even in the top 5 adding AJ.

How much is Boutte going to get? I know he has a year left, but if they're planning on keeping him, the team can't want to let him play into free agency.

That's the problem, with Diggs getting big $$$ now. It limits their chance to be flexible enough to acquire a real #1.

It really doesn't limit us at all. Diggs is here for just one year if they restructure him.

mgteich · Feb 28, 2026

imahobgoblin said:
It really doesn't limit us at all. Diggs is here for just one year if they restructure him.

Do mean restructure or take a serious pay cut?

Restructure is a no-brainer, saving $10M in 2026 cap money by moving money from 2026 to 2027. The team doesn't even need to ask Diggs.

Taking a pay cut is another matter entirely. Diggs would thank the team for the year and move on.

mgteich · Feb 28, 2026

Is it within the rules for the patriots and eagles to make a deal that is not executed until after June 1st?

Aren't folks doing something similar now, trading and not executing until March 11th?

imahobgoblin · Feb 28, 2026

mgteich said:
Do mean restructure or take a serious pay cut?

Restructure is a no-brainer, saving $10M in 2026 cap money by moving money from 2026 to 2027. The team doesn't even need to ask Diggs.

Taking a pay cut is another matter entirely. Diggs would thank the team for the year and move on.

I mean restructure. I think they really want him back regardless of what happens at WR. He would be lethal if paired up with Brown outside, but I don't believe that will happen. I would like to see Alec Pierce in instead. He only costs $$$ and no draft picks.

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