The New England Patriots rode quarterback Drake Maye’s breakout and the league’s easiest schedule to Super Bowl 60. As the rest of the league reloads, getting back to Super Bowl 61 will require an influx of star-level talent.
Nowhere is that more apparent than at wide receiver, where New England’s lack of potency put too much on Maye’s plate late in the year. As big names come off the board in free agency, some have turned their attention to the trade block.
Rob Gronkowski Wants New England Patriots to Make Big Splash for A.J. Brown
Among the biggest names on the rumor mill is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Brown has established himself as an elite receiver, but frustration has been a not-so-quiet part of his tenure in Philadelphia. If the Eagles do intend to capitalize on Brown’s value, Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski suggested that landing such a big fish would be paramount for New England.
He joined the “Up & Adams Show” during the legal tampering period to plead his case.
“If they want to be contenders, they’ve got to get a true No. 1 receiver,” Gronkowski said. “They let go of Stefon Diggs, who had a solid year. They got to get A.J. Brown. They missed out on Alec Pierce; they missed out on Mike Evans. I’m not really sure who is out there currently, but I feel like all of the wide receivers are off the market besides A.J. Brown in a trade.”
“They’ve got to go get him. A.J. Brown, I feel like, wants to be a Patriot. He’s been a Patriots fan.”
Gronk says the Patriots NEED to trade for WR A.J. Brown to remain contenders in the AFC 🗣️@RobGronkowski | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/hLwf0hRZR1
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 10, 2026
Brown has put up four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons while never scoring fewer than 7 touchdowns, albeit with some on-field turbulence.
He struggled to connect with quarterback Jalen Hurts during parts of Philadelphia’s underwhelming 2025 campaign, and when his complaints went public, fans and analysts began to suspect a trade could be on the radar.
It’s possible Brown is dealt for another first-round pick, like he was when the Eagles acquired him during the 2022 NFL Draft. During his time in Philadelphia, he earned two of his three Pro Bowl selections and three second-team All-Pro honors.
Gronkowski was adamant that Brown would mesh well with the Patriots, given Brown’s skill set and physical style of play.
“A.J. Brown is a big guy as well; he fits in that offense,” Gronkowski said. “Mike Vrabel wants toughness. He wants to run the ball, and A.J. Brown blocks, and he’s a great blocker in the run game, willing to do it. So that’s why he’s a great fit.”
Brown was the 21st-ranked pass catcher by PFSN NFL WR Impact Metric. Entering his age-29 season, he still projects as a star-level threat, especially if he finds the kind of target share his talent demands.
Such an addition could reverberate throughout the AFC East.
What an A.J. Brown Trade Would Mean for the AFC East
“If they get A.J. Brown, it means their offense will be a high-potency offense,” he added. “I would say they are no doubt going to be better than Miami, there’s no question they’re gonna be better than the Jets. I’d say it’s going to be between Buffalo and the New England Patriots once again.”
In the perpetual arms race that is the AFC, Brown might be the difference between an early-round exit and another trip to February football. The Seattle Seahawks’ elite defense took advantage of New England’s lack of man-beaters on the boundary. Without an advantage on the boundary, the Patriots struggled to move the ball until their fate was sealed.
Getting back to the Super Bowl would be made much easier by clinching the division and home-field advantage throughout the dance. The 2026 season brings a first-place schedule, improved rosters, and a season’s worth of tape to review. Trading for Brown is the type of move that could stave off regression.
“They got to get him, though,” he concluded. “They’ve got to show that they have some star power on that side of the ball at wide receiver. If they get A.J. Brown, they should be favorites to win that division. If they don’t get a true No. 1, I think the Bills are ahead of them.”
New England agreed to terms with former Green Bay Packers receiver Romeo Doubs on Tuesday, its first real improvement to the receiving corps this offseason. While that might decrease the likelihood of a Brown-sized splash this spring, there’s still room for this offense to add a difference-maker.
