The New England Patriots finally traded for A.J. Brown last week. His addition addressed one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses: The lack of a No. 1 wide receiver.
The price to get Brown was steep, though.
Now that the wide receiver depth chart is in a better spot, what other positions do the Patriots need to bolster ahead of the 2026 NFL season?
Edge rusher is arguably at the top of the list. Could the needed improvement come internally from players already on the roster? Is a trade a possibility?
We answered those questions and more in a brand new mailbag. Let’s dive in.
Editor’s Note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity.
What are the chances we trade for another guy on the edge to help level up the pass rush before the season? Are we just in a “let’s see how Gabe Jacas works out” stage, or could we land any of these trade rumor guys? — @ABloodyViking
If you’re planning on trading for an edge defender, Jesse, I don’t think it’s going to be a top-end-of-the-rotation guy so to speak. At the moment, the Patriots are rolling with Harold Landry, Dre’Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder. They also have additional edge options in Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa and Quintayvious Hutchins on the roster.
That doesn’t mean they won’t add. There’s a chance another team in the league finds it has more depth than it anticipated having and a trade becomes a real possibility. They also could add a veteran — Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Cam Jordan, Kyle Van Noy and Marcus Davenport are all free — if there’s someone available they like.
But I do think you’re on the right track in looking at that position when thinking about where they might be able to improve their roster. I’m of the impression that their defense, especially up front, is an injury away from finding itself in a pretty precarious position.
There are models out there, including ESPN’s FPI and Strat-O-Matic, who are predicting the Patriots will be a mediocre team in 2026. My guess is that’s because those models don’t believe their defense will hold up well enough for a team with championship aspirations.
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The Patriots selected Illinois’ Gabe Jacas in the second round.
A.J. Brown’s contract is complex, but the Patriots essentially get him on a four-year, $110 million deal with only about $32 million guaranteed and zero signing bonus. What would he have gotten on the open market and do you think mid-season or prior to 2027 re-working? — @Docofthewild1
Good question, Jeremy. I’d look at his deal as a two-year, $50 million pact. The Patriots wouldn’t give up a first-round pick just to have the player for one year, in my opinion. If he’s here for two, at least, it’ll end up averaging out to $25 million over those seasons. I actually think that’s relatively fair for someone in Brown’s position. That yearly average, if it was a new deal, would rank 18th in the NFL — tied with former teammate DeVonta Smith.
Brown could make the argument that he’s worth more than being paid as the 18th receiver in football — my guess is he’ll have a season that ranks him near the top-10 in key receiving categories this season — but he’ll be 29 years old soon, and he has a knee condition that needs managing.
Additionally, what the Patriots paid in draft capital for Brown — foregoing whatever value they would be getting in a young player taken with that 2028 first-rounder — might make them reluctant to spend more on Brown now that he’s in the building.
We’ll see if his contract ends up getting reworked one way or the other now that he’s been traded, but Mike Vrabel didn’t seem all that inclined to discuss alterations to those terms last week right before Brown was officially introduced at One Patriot Place.
“He’s been here a day,” Vrabel said. “The plan is for him to practice and try to get acclimated. I don’t see anything that would preclude him from doing that. Right now, I’m excited to add the player. I know the football team is looking forward to having him practice, get acclimated and whatever that looks like today. But by all accounts, he’s ready to go.”
It’s June, so give us one Patriots prediction that sounds crazy today but could look obvious by December. — @floridagolffan
Let’s go with this: TreVeyon Henderson will rank inside the top 10 in rushing yards.
He was 21st last season, with 911 yards, ranking as the most productive rusher in the NFL with less than 200 carries. If he gets to 1,100 this year — and maybe that’ll be challenging with Rhamondre Stevenson as the presumed lead back — he could be in range.
James Lang-Imagn Images
James Lang-Imagn Images TreVeyon Henderson was one of the best rookie running backs last season.
How much of A.J. Brown’s discomfort in Philly had to do with Nick Sirianni and his coaching style? Very different from Mike Vrabel. — @Paul_T4
Had a great conversation with Jeff McLane of the Philly Inquirer on the latest Next Pats. It’s pretty clear that the relationship between AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts was no longer tenable. I’m sure the wonky nature of the Eagles offense lately didn’t help matters much. But this seemed to be a receiver-quarterback issue more than a receiver-coach issue.
Should the Patriots trade Kayshon Boutte to the Giants for Kayvon Thibodeaux? The Giants need a WR and we need an edge rusher. — @JSmall3269
Not sure the Patriots are going to be able to get a player who was once considered a high-end first-rounder, at a premium position, for Kayshon Boutte. As efficient as Boutte has been down the field the last couple of years, I’m not sure teams are clamoring for his services. If they were, my guess is he’d be gone already. If the Giants are desperate for receiver help, and if they’re finding the market is cold for Kayvon Thibodeaux… maybe?
Guessing the return for Boutte, if the Patriots can find a taker, would be a late-round pick.
With reports that Kayshon Boutte has been involved in trade talks, would you be okay with the Patriots moving on from him if they land A.J. Brown? Chris Gasper and Michael Holley discuss on Boston Sports Tonight
Could Dametrious Crownover be this year’s jumbo package guy? — @Soxnation0613
Rare size. Rare athlete. Sure. Could see him in that Jumbo role. We have a great Dametrious Crownover conversation coming up on Next Pats soon. Keep an eye out. Cool story when it comes to individual player development.
How do they replace Julian Hill? Tanner Arkin feels like a better fit for the blocking role than Eli Raridon. — @Thecolours
Interested to see how Tanner Arkin fits into the mix now that they have a little less depth at the tight end position than they did a week ago. They’ll use a fullback. They’ll use a Jumbo tight end. They’ll use Hunter Henry, and they should be using Eli Raridon as well. Raridon and Hill are different players and body types, though, so you’re I think right to assume they won’t treat Raridon as a one-for-one replacement for Hill.
Are we Super Bowl or bust? — @BManRicks34
They look like a team that’s “all in” to me, BMan. Especially when you consider the money that’s about to be paid to Christian Gonzalez (we think) and Drake Maye (more of a certainty).
There are key veteran players who might not be in the plans beyond this year; Mike Onwenu and Hunter Henry’s contracts are scheduled to be up after this season, and Carlton Davis and Christian Barmore have no guaranteed money left on their deals after this year.
If there’s significant turnover between this year and next, and if their spending on outside talent this offseason comes back to earth a bit next offseason, then — if you were to forecast it — this may be their best shot at another long postseason run before the team is reshaped around a highly-paid quarterback.
