The New England Patriots are acquiring wide receiver Romeo Doubs for a substantial amount of money. Does this mean that A.J. Brown will also be signed? Not necessarily.
The 2026 NFL Free Agency is in full swing, with several major deals already completed.

Among others, the New England Patriots have signed Romeo Doubs. The former Green Bay Packers wide receiver has signed a four-year contract worth $68 million. Bonus payments could increase the total value of the deal to up to $80 million.

Insiders recently speculated that the Pats were also interested in A.J. Brown. The Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive star has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction since their Super Bowl triumph in 2025 and is considered a trade candidate. The signing of Doubs makes a Brown deal less likely from the Patriots’ perspective. At least for the time being.

Patriots: Are Brown and Doubs coming?

According to information from the NFL Network, however, the Doubs deal does not automatically rule out New England’s continued interest in trading for the Eagles receiver.

Brown is still under contract in Philadelphia for the long term. His current contract runs through the 2029 season. NFL insider Albert Breer reports on an “internal list” of the WR with four preferred trade destinations. In addition to the Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Buffalo Bills are also mentioned. Breer had already reported on Monday that New England was the only team in this group that had been seriously working on a trade scenario.

The Patriots were very active at the start of free agency. Stefon Diggs was released, Doubs is coming, as are Alijah Vera-Tucker, Dre’Mont Jones, and Reggie Gilliam. According to the report, the contracts cost around $30 million. The Patriots reportedly had a free salary budget of just under $31.6 million beforehand.

Brown deal requires restructuring

This would leave the franchise with no room for Brown, whom head coach Mike Vrabel already knows from their time together with the Tennessee Titans. Unless New England makes further financial adjustments.

Brown’s cap hit for the coming season is $23.4 million. Such a deal would therefore not only be ambitious for the Patriots from a sporting perspective, but also a considerable feat from a salary cap point of view.

In addition, the Eagles are demanding compensation, reportedly in the amount of the Davante Adams trade from 2022. At that time, the Green Bay Packers received a first-round and second-round pick from the Las Vegas Raiders.

That seems unlikely. But not impossible.