Patriots Seek Veteran WR as AJ Brown Insurance

New England replaces Stefon Diggs with younger, cheaper option Romeo Doubs but may add more receiving depth.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:06pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football player making a catch, with the figure broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a variety of colors, conceptually representing the strategic complexity of the Patriots' receiving corps.The Patriots' search for receiving depth beyond AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs reflects the team's strategic approach to rebuilding its offense.Philadelphia Today

The New England Patriots parted ways with veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs early in the offseason and replaced him with former Green Bay Packers star Romeo Doubs, getting younger and cheaper at the position. However, the Patriots could still look to add another experienced pass-catcher, with San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel emerging as an intriguing potential fit.

Why it matters

The Patriots are looking to reload their receiving corps after Diggs' departure, and adding a proven veteran like Samuel could provide valuable insurance in case star wideout AJ Brown suffers an injury. Samuel's versatility as both a receiver and runner could also complement Doubs' skill set well in New England's offense.

The details

The Patriots released Diggs, their top receiver, earlier this offseason in a cost-cutting move. They replaced him by signing Doubs, a 2022 fourth-round pick who had a breakout season with the Packers. While Doubs is a promising young talent, the Patriots may still want to add more veteran experience to their receiving group, especially with Brown's injury history.

  • The Patriots parted ways with Stefon Diggs early in the 2026 offseason.
  • New England signed former Packers WR Romeo Doubs as Diggs' replacement.

The players

Stefon Diggs

A veteran wide receiver who the Patriots released early in the 2026 offseason.

Romeo Doubs

A former fourth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers who the Patriots signed to replace Diggs.

Deebo Samuel

A versatile wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers who could be a potential free agent target for the Patriots.

AJ Brown

The Patriots' star wide receiver, whose injury history could prompt the team to seek additional veteran receiving depth.

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What’s next

The Patriots will likely monitor the free agent market and explore trade options in the coming weeks to see if they can add another veteran wide receiver to complement their receiving corps.

The takeaway

The Patriots are taking a proactive approach to rebuilding their receiving group after Diggs' departure, balancing the addition of a promising young talent in Doubs with the potential to bring in a more experienced veteran like Deebo Samuel. This flexibility could pay dividends as they look to reload their offense around star QB AJ Brown.