Why Patriots Should Pursue This Cowboys WR Instead Of Chasing A.J. Brown

Why Patriots Should Pursue This Cowboys WR Instead Of Chasing A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Patriots have been swirling in the rumor mill all offseason regarding the possibility of acquiring Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.

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While New England and Philadelphia could pull off a trade, the longer it goes without a deal, the less likely it becomes.

If the Patriots are still looking to acquire a top-tier wide receiver, they should shift their focus away from Brown and consider pursuing another receiver from the NFC East instead.

The Cowboys applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to wide receiver George Pickens at the start of free agency. However, just because Dallas tagged Pickens doesn’t guarantee he’ll remain with the team for another season. The Cowboys could still look to trade him, and he would be a great fit for the Patriots.

Pickens will likely command a first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft and could resemble the trade package that the Miami Dolphins received for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on Tuesday, acquiring a 2026 first-round pick, a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

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If the Patriots trade for Brown, it would likely cost them a first-round pick and possibly a Day 2 selection for a receiver who is about to turn 29 years old. In contrast, Pickens might fetch a bit more than Brown, and he’s only 25, still in the prime of his career.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t great at keeping star players, as evidenced by last season’s trade of standout pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

If the Patriots trade for Pickens, they would need to negotiate a new contract for him, which could amount to around $30.6 million per season, as Spotrac estimated his market value at four years and $122 million.

New England faces a choice: it can either surrender a handful of picks and engage in a major deal for Pickens, or it can hold back. However, if the Patriots are serious about winning the Super Bowl, he could be the key to achieving that goal.

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