Patriots Add Wide Receiver Romeo Doubs, Impacting Potential A.J. Brown Trade

The signing of Doubs gives the Patriots more options and leverage in their pursuit of Brown from the Eagles.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New England Patriots were in communication with the Philadelphia Eagles about a potential trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown, but the Eagles' high asking price and desire to wait until after June 1 to trade Brown made a deal difficult. To address their wide receiver needs, the Patriots have now agreed to sign free agent Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract. This signing gives the Patriots more flexibility and leverage in their pursuit of Brown, as they no longer feel as desperate to acquire him immediately.

Why it matters

The Patriots' addition of Doubs is significant because it provides them with a talented young receiver who can help address their needs at the position, while also giving them more options and negotiating power in potentially trading for Brown from the Eagles. The Eagles have been reluctant to trade Brown before June 1 due to the significant salary cap implications, so the Patriots' new signing allows them to wait out the Eagles and potentially get Brown at a lower price later in the offseason.

The details

The Patriots were in communication with the Eagles about acquiring Brown, but the Eagles' high asking price and desire to wait until after June 1 to trade him made a deal difficult for New England. To address their wide receiver needs, the Patriots have now agreed to sign free agent Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract. Doubs is a 25-year-old receiver who can play on the outside and help make up for the production the Patriots lost when Stefon Diggs left. The signing of Doubs gives the Patriots more flexibility and leverage in their pursuit of Brown, as they no longer feel as desperate to acquire him immediately.

  • The Patriots were in communication with the Eagles about a potential A.J. Brown trade before the NFL's legal tampering period opened on Monday.
  • The Patriots agreed to terms with Romeo Doubs on a four-year, $68 million contract on Tuesday.

The players

Romeo Doubs

A 25-year-old wide receiver who the Patriots have agreed to sign to a four-year, $68 million contract.

A.J. Brown

A star wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles who the Patriots have been pursuing in trade talks.

New England Patriots

The NFL team that is looking to add wide receiver talent this offseason, including through a potential trade for A.J. Brown.

Philadelphia Eagles

The NFL team that currently employs A.J. Brown and has been reluctant to trade him before June 1 due to salary cap implications.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Patriots will continue to monitor the situation with A.J. Brown and the Eagles, waiting to see if the asking price comes down after June 1. They will also evaluate their current wide receiver group during spring practices to determine if they still need to pursue a trade for Brown.

The takeaway

The Patriots' signing of Romeo Doubs gives them more flexibility and leverage in their pursuit of A.J. Brown from the Eagles. While Brown remains a target, the Patriots no longer feel as desperate to acquire him immediately, allowing them to wait for the Eagles' asking price to potentially come down later in the offseason.