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

lancerman said:

Even if you expect Vrabel to be an improvement drafting, the 31 is still too far down to be anything more than potential. There's more duds across the NFL who were picked 25 through 31 than actual elite talent. Just a straight up numbers game, the percentage drop of a good starter from the top 15 to after that is the equivalent of the drop from the 1st round to 2nd round. The concentration of talent doesn't exits.

On top of that, there's just the reality of the draft board. The positions we want to improve on most are the ones where the top talent goes fast. We need a WR1, not an other 2 or 3. Realistically unless you just get very lucky, you aren't drafting a projected WR1 that late.

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I think you are right on WR, there's really only one( ( Carnell Tate), Tyson would be one but his injury history has him dropping significantly. However right tackle is strong in the 2nd half of the first round, as is Off the Ball Linebacker, both serious needs. There are good Edge prospects who could be available, but they would be more potential picks. And using that standard everything after 15 in every draft is looking for potential, which is why it so important to have a front office that is really good at identifying the right guys to bring in and develop, and the coaches to develop them, which imo the Patriots have. You can't build a consistent contender through free agency, you have draft and develop well, and then use free agency to plug the holes you couldn't fill through free agency and the draft. And you have to have the confidence in your front office to. I believe they will bring in the right guys, as well as the confidence in your coaching staff to develop them, and the position in to allow that to happen. I think the Patriots have that, and will be a contender for years to come if they are smart about building their teams. II realize that most fans are looking at next season, and think they have yo fill any holes right now, I don't look at it the same way, I'm looking at it in terms of them building a teams that will always contend, and I'm willing to have the patience to allow them the time to go about that the right way. Only time will tell if I'm right or not, but I don't want them trading away high picks unless it's a good deal, and imo 1st round pick(s) for AJ Brown isn't a good deal, and I would bet on them drafting and developing players to get there. If s guy like Boston or Concepcion is there they should look closely at taking them, but if they could get an Edge prospect like Lawrence, and the go WR in the 2nd I would be fine with that as well.

upstater1 said:

I wouldn't trade Gonzo for 3 1st rounders.

I wouldn't trade a 2027 2nd rounder for AJ Brown.

A 2026 2nd rounder yes, 2027, no.

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This doesn't make any sense whatsoever. A second round pick a year out is a third this year.

The Gr8est said:

Would any Pats fan consider trading Gonzo for AJ Brown?

It could easily become an equivalent of that.

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NO!!! It would totally go against everything Vrabel's stated emphatically about getting guys that are drafted here to a second contract...

Gonzo is a young talented player that is neck and neck with Surtain for the best CB in the league.. offer a 2nd& a 4th along with pop Douglas...

Crazy Patriot Guy said:

It's also foolish to assume it's a lock that AJ Brown will have the impact expected of him for the compensation given. We would certainly expect him to be our top WR, but we also can't pretend 1st round picks traded for veterans has a 100% success rate.

And as you said, picking at the end of the 1st round makes the pick more likely to bust. I agree. My point is we can't GUARANTEE we'll be picking at the end of the 1st round. What if Maye (and others) goes down for the season? How far is Josh Dobbs or Devito taking us? Is AJ Brown worth potentially what could be a top 10 draft pick?

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???
By signing Brown our 2027 pick will be worse.

Posters seem to be posting about how good our 2027 draft choice will be instead of focusing on how Brown will make the 2026 better and make it more likely that we will go deep in the playoffs again.

The Gr8est said:

Look at the Commanders. One season after playing in the NFC title game they are picking top 10.

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That Commanders team had a bunch of mercenaries for contracts that season... also Daniels getting hurt last season totally derailed thier season...

The idea of AJ is great, imagining him with Doubs, Hollins, Williams. But, 2 major issues arise in reality.
1. AJ costs a 1st rounder & a massive $$ for a guy with a lot of wear on his tires.
2. AJ makes Boutte irrelevant. They play the same position & style.

So, we'd have to either trade Boutte, or embitter him by relegating a cheap overachiever to the bench for a year while who knows what happens with AJ - health and locker room.

mgteich said:

???
By signing Brown our 2027 pick will be worse.

Posters seem to be posting about how good our 2027 draft choice will be instead of focusing on how Brown will make the 2026 better and make it more likely that we will go deep in the playoffs again.

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We are looking to have major improvements with perhaps
trade for Brown
31 top RT
63 top EDGE
95 top TE
4th LB, OL
future free agent at RB

Real fan 02 said:

NO!!! It would totally go against everything Vrabel's stated emphatically about getting guys that are drafted here to a second contract...

Gonzo is a young talented player that is neck and neck with Surtain for the best CB in the league.. offer a 2nd& a 4th along with pop Douglas...

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I am not suggesting trading Gonzo for Brown. I am using Gonzo as an example of an opportunity cost that the Pats could lose by trading our 2027 1st round pick to the Eagles for Brown, and our season is disappointing for any number of reasons.

Do you think the Commanders expected to be picking 7th overall after the season I which they went to the NFCCG?

Trading for Brown guarantees nothing except the loss of the traded assets, and a 2027 1st is far too much to risk for a declining asset.

Howie Roseman has an AJ Brown issue, not the Pats.

Howie needs to bite the bullet not the Pats.

Real fan 02 said:

That Commanders team had a bunch of mercenaries for contracts that season... also Daniels getting hurt last season totally derailed thier season...

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Fortunately for the Pats, Maye is immune to season ending injury.

jdlboot14 said:

The idea of AJ is great, imagining him with Doubs, Hollins, Williams. But, 2 major issues arise in reality.
1. AJ costs a 1st rounder & a massive $$ for a guy with a lot of wear on his tires.
2. AJ makes Boutte irrelevant. They play the same position & style.

So, we'd have to either trade Boutte, or embitter him by relegating a cheap overachiever to the bench for a year while who knows what happens with AJ - health and locker room.

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I would move Boutte in this possible Trade: that should bring down the asking price some. Plus Kyle William should a better X who takes the Top off the D. So that leaves A.J. Brown - R Doubs - KW - Barefoot and a Rookie. Pop Douglas and E Chism need a all world Offseason and TC to merit any considerations.

I am not into losing Boutte at all, and the thought of trading Gonzo for AJ is ridiculous.

mgteich said:

???
By signing Brown our 2027 pick will be worse.

Posters seem to be posting about how good our 2027 draft choice will be instead of focusing on how Brown will make the 2026 better and make it more likely that we will go deep in the playoffs again.

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Of course Brown and another strong draft should have us picking early to mid 20s at worst, but injuries could change that drastically. As I mentioned in my post, how far do our backup QBs take us if Maye goes down for the year?

I'm not predicting this as if it's likely to happen, but we can't also pretend a top 10 pick is an impossibility simply because we should be better on paper. There are some players I'm happy to take that risk for. AJ Brown isn't one of them.

Dec54 said:

I am not into losing Boutte at all, and the thought of trading Gonzo for AJ is ridiculous.

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Losing Kayson Boutte is inevitable they signed Dobbs and KW is going into year two. Decent WR Draft on tap too so they can replace Boutte. We wouldn't need Boutte if we have A.J. and the others. This is Boute's last year on the books for good or for bad. Even if he has a Big year we would have too much $$$$$ tied up in WR's *A.J.* and Doubs *possibly*. That is why you Draft a Young WR's and hope he hits on that Rookie contract.

The Gr8est said:

I am not suggesting trading Gonzo for Brown. I am using Gonzo as an example of an opportunity cost that the Pats could lose by trading our 2027 1st round pick to the Eagles for Brown, and our season is disappointing for any number of reasons.

Do you think the Commanders expected to be picking 7th overall after the season I which they went to the NFCCG?

Trading for Brown guarantees nothing except the loss of the traded assets, and a 2027 1st is far too much to risk for a declining asset.

Howie Roseman has an AJ Brown issue, not the Pats.

Howie needs to bite the bullet not the Pats.

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Ya, I can see this being Boutte's last year. And we probably already saw Pop's last year last year.
But, I will not stand for us taking a WR in the first 2 rounds. It will be a bust, no matter what.
We need an EDGE and either OL or TE in the top rounds.
Maybe mid-round WR, but rookie WR's don't do anything in JMD's system.

IF they trade for AJ, we should give Boutte & a '27 2nd.
AJ, Doubs, Williams, Hollins, Chism/Pop + Rookie would be good.

The Gr8est said:

Howie Roseman has an AJ Brown issue, not the Pats.

Howie needs to bite the bullet not the Pats.

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This is the most important part of the debate.

The Gr8est said:

I am not suggesting trading Gonzo for Brown. I am using Gonzo as an example of an opportunity cost that the Pats could lose by trading our 2027 1st round pick to the Eagles for Brown, and our season is disappointing for any number of reasons.

Do you think the Commanders expected to be picking 7th overall after the season I which they went to the NFCCG?

Trading for Brown guarantees nothing except the loss of the traded assets, and a 2027 1st is far too much to risk for a declining asset.

Howie Roseman has an AJ Brown issue, not the Pats.

Howie needs to bite the bullet not the Pats.

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Right, still a stupid take. Lets argue that trading away a 6th rounder could be Tom Brady, do you really want to get rid of Tom Brady?????

Crazy Patriot Guy said:

Of course Brown and another strong draft should have us picking early to mid 20s at worst, but injuries could change that drastically. As I mentioned in my post, how far do our backup QBs take us if Maye goes down for the year?

I'm not predicting this as if it's likely to happen, but we can't also pretend a top 10 pick is an impossibility simply because we should be better on paper. There are some players I'm happy to take that risk for. AJ Brown isn't one of them.

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There are four ways to consider a possible injury to your QB.

1) have a #2 QB that could win several games and even playoff games if needed. This is a serious commitment, as much as for almost any but your top few starter.

2) Have a mediocre backup who you hope can win you a game or two but realistically be out of playoff contntion if the QB is out more than 4 or 5 games.

3) ignore the possibility and consider the season done if your QB is injured.

4) actually consider the possibility in your plans by not spending picks and and money in case there is an injury to one of our QB's and we are a much weaker team overall
==========
I have suggested that the most reasonable plan is #1, but most posters and the team management disagree.

The Gr8est said:

I am not suggesting trading Gonzo for Brown. I am using Gonzo as an example of an opportunity cost that the Pats could lose by trading our 2027 1st round pick to the Eagles for Brown, and our season is disappointing for any number of reasons.

Do you think the Commanders expected to be picking 7th overall after the season I which they went to the NFCCG?

Trading for Brown guarantees nothing except the loss of the traded assets, and a 2027 1st is far too much to risk for a declining asset.

Howie Roseman has an AJ Brown issue, not the Pats.

Howie needs to bite the bullet not the Pats.

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Totally get what you're saying.. I misread your initial question. Makes great sense. To me at this point pretty conceivable to see that AJ is likely already dealt but can't act until June 1st.. on the 2027 picks who knows right? Could be a Justin Jefferson or Could end up being a Cyrus Jones... never know what you're really getting in the draft..