The New England Patriots are making a bold play for Philadelphia Eagles superstar wide receiver A.J. Brown, and the entire NFL is watching. All signs point to the three-time Pro Bowler joining forces with quarterback Drake Maye in Foxborough for the 2026-27 season and beyond—a move that seemed almost inevitable even two months ago. But in the high-stakes world of NFL trades, nothing is guaranteed until the ink dries.
Just ask the Baltimore Ravens. They were locked in on landing Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, only to see health concerns derail the deal. Baltimore quickly pivoted and signed four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson instead. That same cautionary tale applies to New England: what happens if the Eagles get a better offer from another team at the last minute?
NESN’s Aaliyan Mohammed has a compelling backup plan for the Patriots: Tyreek Hill. Yes, the same Tyreek Hill who rewrote the record books during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, breaking the franchise’s single-season receptions mark in 2021-22 before signing a historic $54 million contract. Hill is an eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro who led the league in receiving yards as recently as 2023.
“Adam Schefter reported earlier this month that the Patriots are ‘likely’ to trade for Brown after June 1,” Mohammed wrote. “The fact that the Philadelphia Eagles drafted a receiver in the first round and the fact that the Patriots did not draft a single receiver add fuel to the fire. However, until Brown is officially traded, there is a chance a different team will make the Eagles a better offer.”
Hill’s production in Miami was electric—3,509 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Dolphins. But 2024 was a different story, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s inconsistency and injuries limited Hill’s impact. Now, the speedster is recovering from a devastating ACL injury. Still, for a Patriots team that didn’t draft a single receiver this year, adding a proven game-changer like Hill would be a major statement—even if Brown remains the top target.