Patriots Should Push for A.J. Brown Trade Amid NFL Free Agency Rumors

The New England Patriots finished the season 4-13 but with new head coach Mike Vrabel returning to the site of his three Super Bowl wins, and young quarterback Drake Maye showing enough substance in his rookie year to leave fans cautiously optimistic about the future, there is more buzz surrounding the franchise than there has been since Tom Brady left at the conclusion of the 2019 season.

Looking to capitalize on young Maye's play and give him the weapons necessary to take his play to the next level, the organization appears committed to finding a top-tier wide receiver.

ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler noted on SportsCenter that the Pats were one of several teams interested in acquiring DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Matthew Berry of NBC Sports previously reported that the team contacted Philadelphia to inquire about a possible A.J. Brown trade.

If the team is invested in a wide receiver, it must find a way to land Brown, who is among the most complete receivers in the league and now has one Super Bowl championship to his name.

Brown has 446 receptions on 695 targets for 7,026 yards and 49 touchdowns. However, his experience in big games and in meaningful moments makes him an important target for Vrabel in his first year as head coach of the Patriots.

Brown was drafted by Vrabel when he was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans and developed into an elite wideout during his tenure there. He excelled despite consistent quarterback play there and has continued to excel despite playing in a run-first offense during his stint with the Eagles.

Brown can take over games when the opportunities present themselves, something that has not always happened in the City of Brotherly Love. He and teammate De'Vonta Smith expressed frustration with the passing game last November.

A recent tweet, which he eventually deleted, suggests his patience with the notoriously opinionated Philadelphia fan base may be wearing thin, too. In it, he took the fans to task for choosing sides, writing articles, hoping the national media would pick it up, then blame it when it did, and said the "Eagles community is so messy bruh."

If the Pats get wind Brown is at all unhappy in his current situation and thinks the team has the draft capital and cap space to make a deal for the top-tier receiver, they absolutely should. Not only is he a game-changer, but having a target of that quality would do wonders for the development of Maye.

The first-year quarterback completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for a team that started DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and Kendrick Bourne.

Imagine what the former Tar Heel could do with a stud at the X like Brown.

The wide receiver took to Instagram after his Super Bowl LIX victory and admittedly expressed that he felt dissatisfaction with finally achieving his goal of hoisting the Lombardi.

He wrote:

"I’ve never been a champion at the highest level before but I thought my hard work would be justified by winning it all," Brown said. "It wasn’t. My thrill for this game comes when i dominate. It’s the Hunt that does it for me. It’s when the Db drops his head and surrender because he can’t F with me . The Intense battles. Early mornings. Late nights. Sacrifices. I love putting smiles on peoples faces, don’t get me wrong but it just wasn’t what I thought it would be. It’s the journey that I love the most. BACK 2 Work!"

Few situations would provide a greater challenge than restoring the championship aspirations of one of this generation's most successful and storied franchises.

Brown is an elite wide out who has excelled at the highest of levels, is hungry to get there, and be a big reason that his team wins another title.

If the opportunity presents itself, the Pats must jump at the opportunity to acquire him.