After months of speculation, the New England Patriots finally got their guy.
They acquired Philadelphia Eagles star WR A.J. Brown, reuniting him with head coach Mike Vrabel and saving him from his discontent in the City of Brotherly Love.
Of course, that’s great news for Drake Maye and the passing game, though not so much for the wide receiver corps. As ESPN insider Mike Reiss pointed out, someone may now have to be the odd man out.
The Patriots have a logjam at wide receiver
“Teams usually keep five or six receivers on the initial 53-man roster, although seven isn’t totally out of the question,” wrote Reiss. “An unexpected injury could always thin the ranks before the 2026 season opens Sept. 9 in Seattle, and a possible Boutte trade has been rumored.”
With Romeo Doubs also arriving in Foxborough, the Patriots have Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III, DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte on the team.
As mentioned, Boutte has been tangled up in trade rumors over the past couple of weeks, though there haven’t been any takers yet. Of course, this is a great problem to have if you’re Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel, but it is a problem nonetheless. There are way too many mouths to feed, especially with Brown demanding a big share of targets.
Ultimately, the Patriots don’t have to make that call now. They’re about to enter the quietest stretch of the offseason, so they can assess their roster and all their options before making a move. In the meantime, teams looking for help in the pass-catching department should keep an eye out in Massachusetts.