New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Jerod Mayo at a press conference.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
A trade proposal has been floated that would see the New England Patriots land a star wide receiver without handing over their first-round pick.

The Pats have the third-overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and are expected to draft a top college quarterback. Adding a three-time Pro Bowl wideout certainly wouldn’t hurt Jerod Mayo’s chances of coaching the team back to the glory days.

During a recent live stream, Jake Ellenbogen of Bleacher Report recently suggested that the Patriots could potentially acquire Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown.

Brown was the subject of trade rumors nearing the end of the 2023 season as reports claimed he was at the center of a rift between the locker room and head coach Nick Sirianni. The wideout has insisted that he wants to remain in Philly while the team has given no indication of wanting to deal their receiver.

Still, Ellenbogen has suggested that the Patriots could pull off a draft-day trade for Brown.

Could The New England Patriots Really Get A.J. Brown Without Giving Up First-Round Rights For 2024?

Proposed New England Patriots target A.J. Brown celebrating a touchdown vs. the Buffalo BillsPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a receiving touchdown during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
A player of Brown’s ilk typically does not switch teams for anything less than a first-rounder if draft compensation is the currency of choice. Yet, it’s believed the New England Patriots could potentially convince the Eagles to let him go in exchange for later-round picks.

“They only have one first-round pick. They’re not trading away the third overall [pick]. So, a second, a third, and a fourth [round picks for Brown],” the B/R analyst said. “It’s a lot, but hey, what better way to ring in a new era of Patriots football than to bring in a franchise quarterback at pick three [to pair with Brown].”

Such a deal doesn’t seem like it would be great for either side. Breaking up the receiving tandem of Brown and DeVonta Smith would likely set the Eagles back several paces, though they could use the picks to bring in replacements.

On the Patriots’ side, they have multiple areas to address, and giving up three picks would not be the best way forward right now.