Patriots Coach Addresses A.J. Brown Trade Rumors

Mike Vrabel won't rule out possibility of acquiring the Eagles wide receiver.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:07am

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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged the team is exploring ways to strengthen their receiving corps, including the possibility of trading for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. Vrabel expressed enthusiasm about the Patriots' current group of receivers, but noted the challenge of replacing the production of recently released Stefon Diggs.

Why it matters

The Patriots are looking to reload their passing attack after parting ways with Diggs, one of their top receivers. Adding a proven playmaker like Brown could significantly boost their offense, but any potential trade would hinge on the Eagles' willingness to move the star wideout.

The details

Vrabel did not definitively rule out the possibility of the Patriots trading for Brown, saying the team will explore all avenues to improve the roster. However, any deal for Brown would be complicated by the significant dead-cap hit the Eagles would incur by trading him before June 1. The Patriots have signed some new receivers, including Romeo Doubs, but Vrabel acknowledged the challenge of replacing Diggs' production.

  • On March 31, Vrabel addressed the A.J. Brown trade rumors at the NFL's annual meeting.

The players

Mike Vrabel

The head coach of the New England Patriots, who previously coached A.J. Brown with the Tennessee Titans.

A.J. Brown

The star wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, who has been the subject of trade rumors involving the Patriots.

Stefon Diggs

The wide receiver the Patriots released ahead of the 2026 season, creating a need at the position.

Romeo Doubs

The wide receiver the Patriots signed to a four-year, $68 million deal to help replace Diggs.

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What they’re saying

“We've talked about this since last January. We're going to try to do everything we can to strengthen our roster through the draft, through free agency, multiple ways of player acquisition.”

— Mike Vrabel, Head Coach, New England Patriots

“There's a lot of guys that we're excited about.”

— Mike Vrabel, Head Coach, New England Patriots

What’s next

The Patriots will continue to monitor the situation with A.J. Brown and the Eagles, as any potential trade would likely have to wait until after June 1 to minimize the dead-cap hit for Philadelphia.

The takeaway

The Patriots are actively seeking ways to bolster their receiving corps, with A.J. Brown emerging as a potential high-profile target. However, any trade for the star wideout would be complex due to the Eagles' salary cap considerations, leaving the Patriots in a waiting game as they explore other options to replace the production of the departed Stefon Diggs.