We’re less than two weeks removed from the Patriots losing in embarrassing fashion in Super Bowl 60 out in Santa Clara, and yet the offseason rumor mill that fell one win short of their seventh Lombardi Trophy is absolutely humming.
As we discussed earlier this week with multiple pieces on Tyreek Hill, as well as a free agent idea from WEEI’s Jermaine Wiggins on Mike Evans, this region has been starving for a true No. 1 receiver for the better part of two decades (with no disrespect to Julian Edelman, he was his own unique thing).
Eagles All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown added fuel to that fire this week with comments he made on Edelman and Rob Gronkowski’s “Dudes on Dudes” podcast, where he talked about growing up a Patriots fan, his immense love and respect for his former head coach Mike Vrabel, and even winking at the camera when Edelman proclaimed “we’re all Patriots.”
When Brown makes a podcast appearance like that, can you really blame Patriots fans for being excited?
Looking at the other side of the football, and there’s another massive name in the mix for the Patriots:
Raiders All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
On radio row, in the lead up to Super Bowl 60, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini said the 28-year-old has outright told her that he’d like to one day play for Vrabel.
It goes without saying that these are two massive names that would fill two massive needs for the Patriots heading into 2026. Both require trades, and both of those trades would likely require a hefty sum of draft capital.
But if both guys want to be here, you do what you can to get those deals done…right?
On Thursday’s Jones and Keefe, WEEI’s Adam Jones felt strongly that this was the case.
“You know what just occurred to me?” said Jones. “Who does Maxx Crosby want to play for - again, reportedly? And A.J. Brown is winking about being a Patriot? So all these guys clearly want to play here, right? If we're believing the reporting.
“Who are we gonna blame when they don't get them, right? Like, if all these guys are itching to play for the Patriots - Maxx Crosby, ‘Oh, I know for a fact Maxx Crosby wants to play for Mike Vrabel, because he told me,’ says Dianna Russini. A.J. Brown's winking about ‘we're all Patriots.’ OK, so they all want to be Patriots? So they better get one. I mean, this just crystallized with me, but they better get one of them. They all want to be here. How hard is it to get them here? Get it done. Get it done.”
“Is there a world where Philly just keeps A.J. Brown?” WEEI’s Rich Keefe followed up. “They’ve been keeping him the last couple years.”
“Yes,” said Jones. “I think it's unlikely - I think both those guys move - but it's possible neither one moves, or one or the other doesn't move, that’s possible.”
“I still think Maxx Crosby - Tom Brady might put the kibosh on a Patriots trade,” said Keefe. “Or the Patriots - like, not trading two [first round picks] versus not trading your second [round pick], I also think is a different debate. Not trading your second, I don't understand that. You get A.J. Brown - still in his 20s, it's a position of need, it's a relationship with the coach that's perfect. Like, I don't get that one.
“I, personally, would do two first round picks for Maxx Crosby, but that's a little bit different. That's a big swing. That's a lot to invest. If you're early on in this process, you don't want to trade two ones. That's a little bit different. And let's see what he ends up going for. I bet it probably will be two ones.”
“All I know is everyone tells me this place is a destination, and all these guys want to play here,” said Jones. “So what does it say if you don't get them? You better get one of them, is what just occurred to me. You better.”
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