Ranking Patriots' Top WR Options Amid Ongoing A.J. Brown Trade Buzz

It still feels like the New England Patriots will eventually add Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. It won't make financial sense for the Eagles to move Brown until after June 1, but New England still seems to be his next destination.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer recently referred to June 1 as "'A.J. Brown Day' in New England and Philly."

Of course, no deal is done yet, and, as the failed Maxx Crosby trade reminded everyone in March, no deal is ever done until it's officially completed. Unless and until a trade for Brown is completed, the Patriots are likely to remain in the wide-receiver market.

"We're gonna look to strengthen the roster wherever we can," head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday.

Brown looms as option No. 1, but the Patriots will have other avenues of strengthening their receiver room. You'll find a look at their top options, including trading for Brown, here.

7. Sign Tyreek Hill

AP Photo/Doug Murray

The Patriots added Romeo Doubs in free agency but opted not to use a draft selection on a wide receiver. They have some promising young players like Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams but don't have a true No. 1 receiver on their roster.

Former division rival Tyreek Hill has been a No. 1 target for most of his pro career and has been one of the league's top big-play threats when healthy. In 2023, he led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards.

Unfortunately, the 32-year-old isn't healthy, as he is recovering from a dislocated knee that involved multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hill may not be recovered in time for the early season.

"Tyreek Hill has an injury situation where he might not be ready until midway through the season," Schefter told The Pat McAfee Show (23-second mark).

The Patriots could take a flier on Hill now and hope that he's healthy in time for a playoff run. However, adding another receiver now and evaluating Hill when he's closer to 100 percent would make a lot more sense.

6. Sign DeAndre Hopkins

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Set to turn 34 in June, DeAndre Hopkins is no longer the No. 1 receiver he once was. He appeared in all 17 games for the Baltimore Ravens last season but finished with just 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns.

Hopkins hasn't had a 1,000-yard season since he played for Vrabel's Tennessee Titans in 2023.

However, Hopkins could still give third-year quarterback Drake Maye a dependable possession target while adding a veteran presence to the receiver room.

This is one reason why Hopkins would make sense as a complementary receiver in New England. The Vrabel connection is another—Vrabel was also around Hopkins as a Houston Texans defensive assistant before the two teamed up in Tennessee.

Bringing in Hopkins wouldn't give New England the No. 1 receiver it lacks, but it would improve the receiver group.

5. Sign Keenan Allen

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Keenan Allen doesn't have a preexisting relationship with Vrabel the way that Hopkins does. However, the 34-year-old has been a more dependable possession receiver over the past couple of seasons.

The Los Angeles Chargers' former top target settled into a complementary role in 2024 and 2025, finishing each season with at least 70 catches and more than 700 receiving yards. Allen spent the 2024 season with the Chicago Bears before returning to Los Angeles, and the Chargers have not ruled out bringing him back.

"That door is not closed," Chargers GM Joe Hortiz told Up & Adams (h/t NFL.com's Bobby Knownack).

Signing Allen as a free agent would be a way to bolster the offense at an affordable rate—he played on a one-year, $3 million deal this past season. Adding him would also prevent him from returning to a potential postseason foe.

4. Trade for Brandon Aiyuk

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk looms as a potentially cheaper trade alternative to Brown.

ESPN's Nick Wagoner has reported that the Niners are open to moving Aiyuk and are hoping to recoup some draft compensation for the 28‑year‑old, potentially even in the form of a late‑round pick.

And while the Eagles have been a bit coy about Brown's future, the 49ers have made it quite clear that Aiyuk can be had.

"We're available. Give us a call," 49ers GM John Lynch told reporters.

Now, it's worth noting Aiyuk is coming off a severe knee injury and a 2025 season that included missed meetings and other team activities, per Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic, who reported that he "failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities."

It's impossible to know just how healthy Aiyuk is at this point, and it's fair to wonder if he'd be a culture fit in New England.

If the Patriots can get satisfactory answers to those unknowns, though, adding Aiyuk would make sense. He's a strong route-runner who can create after the catch, he topped 1,300 receiving yards when last healthy, and he is still in his prime playing window.

3. Sign Deebo Samuel

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Former 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel is a very intriguing option for the Patriots if they cannot secure Brown. The 30-year-old hasn't been a 1,000-yard receiver since the 2021 season but showed last year that he is still a dangerous dual-threat.

In his lone season with the Washington Commanders, Samuel recorded 802 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns. He managed those numbers (727 receiving yards, 75 rushing yards), despite playing in an offense ravaged by injuries and limited by inconsistency.

With Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, and others missing time, the Commanders finished the 2025 season ranked dead-last in total offense.

Samuel's positional versatility and competitive toughness would be welcome additions to Josh McDaniels' offense. He wouldn't give Maye a true No. 1 target, but he'd give McDaniels a lot of flexibility in both the running and passing games.

While Samuel has only reached 1,000 scrimmage yards twice in his career, he has reached 800 yards in each of the past five seasons.

2. Re-Sign Stefon Diggs

AP Photo/Frank Franklin

The Patriots are without a No. 1 wideout because they parted with Stefon Diggs at the beginning of the offseason, just one year into a three-year, $63.5 million deal. However, New England made it clear at the time that it wouldn't rule out a reunion with the 32-year-old.

"I never like to rule anything out," executive vice president Eliot Wolf told Up & Adams in late March (h/t NESN's Dakota Randall).

When Diggs was released, he was facing criminal charges stemming from an alleged dispute with his personal chef, which he denied through his attorneys. He was found not guilty in early May, which should clear the path for him to play in 2026, though league discipline under the personal conduct policy is still a possibility.

"We have been monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review of the personal conduct policy," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement.

If New England and Diggs can hash out a contract that works for both parties, a reunion would make a ton of sense. While Diggs delivered a good-not-great 1,013 receiving yards in 2025, he provided a passer rating of 112.9 when targeted and led the NFL in ESPN Analytics' Catch Score.

1. Trade for A.J. Brown

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Brown should remain New England's top target until he's on the roster or until/unless he no longer is an option. There are a few reasons for this.

The most obvious is that Brown is a difference-making receiver. He's regularly a size-speed mismatch on the perimeter, and he's delivered consistent production throughout his career. Brown has reached 1,000 receiving yards in four straight seasons and in six of his seven campaigns.

Set to turn 29 next month, Brown should also have a few good years of his playing prime left. He may not be a true long-term piece to pair with Maye, but he'd provide a longer window than older players like Hill and Diggs could.

Brown is also under contract through 2029, though Philly will have a window to trade him after June 1—doing so before then would cost the Eagles $20.1 million in additional 2026 cap space.

Lastly, Brown also has experience playing for Vrabel from their time together with the Tennessee Titans. He'd come to New England as an immediate culture fit.

The price to obtain Brown should be relatively reasonable, especially with the Patriots expected to pick late in the draft order over the next couple of years. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler told 97.5 The Fanatic that a first-round pick in 2027 or 2028 is probably the most the Eagles can expect in return.