On Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that the Patriots hosted Daniels for a pre-draft visit. The former Kansas Jayhawks standout is regarded as a high-upside developmental talent, though he is projected as a mid-to-late round selection rather than a first-round pick.

According to recent comments from head coach Mike Vrabel, improving the running game is a top priority this offseason. The addition of a mobile quarterback like Daniels would provide depth at a vital position and offer a “safety net” to avoid placing excessive pressure on Maye should injuries arise.

Drake Maye is the undisputed QB1, but 2026 brings new challenges

Drake Maye is coming off a spectacular breakout season in 2025. Under the guidance of Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the former first-round pick finished as the NFL MVP runner-up, throwing for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns. However, the postseason proved to be a learning experience for the young star.

While Maye led the Patriots to Super Bowl LX, his performance in the championship loss to the Seattle Seahawks—where he was sacked six times and struggled with a minor shoulder injury—left some wondering how much more room he has to grow.

Great things are expected for Maye in 2026. Following the release of Stefon Diggs in March, the club is reportedly aggressively pursuing Eagles star A.J. Brown. Such an addition would provide Maye with an elite veteran target to replace Diggs’ production and help the offense take the final step toward a championship.

Will the Patriots draft Jalon Daniels?

Scouts have given Jalon Daniels a 5.66 prospect grade, labeling him a “developmental backup” with the potential to eventually become a starter. New England clearly sees something unique in his tape, likely valuing his mobility and the fact that he was healthy for his final two collegiate seasons.

With Tommy DeVito currently serving as the primary backup, Daniels could be a valuable late-draft addition. Scouts have noted his athleticism is among the best in the 2026 class, and for a Patriots team looking to add a different dimension to their playbook, Daniels represents a low-risk, high-reward investment.

“We want to be more consistent running the football,” Vrabel said, per MassLive’s Karen Guregian. “This isn’t like we’re going to run it every single play. It’s just that I felt like there were too many times where we wanted to run it, and it was just inefficient.

“Now we popped some, which was great. We had some explosives. … But I want to be able to do it more consistently to allow for some of the run actions in the passing game to really come alive. It’s a tough league if you have to sit there and drop back and throw the football as much as we did in the last game of the season.”

The Patriots were sixth in rushing yards in the regular season and ranked 13th in yards per attempt. Definitely, Vrabel will have a lot of work ahead if he wants to improve these statistics.

Two key rushers for New England

In the 2025 season, the Patriots’ backfield was led by the duo of Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson. Stevenson concluded the regular season with 603 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on 130 carries, while also proving his versatility with 345 receiving yards and 2 scores.

Meanwhile, Henderson made an immediate impact by tallying 911 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on 180 attempts, adding 221 yards through the air. Despite a dominant 14-3 record and a Super Bowl LX appearance, Vrabel demanded even greater efficiency from his ground game to ensure New England remain the AFC’s physical benchmark in 2026.

Opportunities to strengthen the Patriots’ backfield

With the goal of once again winning the AFC East and returning to the Super Bowl for revenge, the New England Patriots will have 11 opportunities in the upcoming draft to continue strengthening their roster:

• Round 1: Pick 31
• Round 2: Pick 63
• Round 3: Pick 95
• Round 4: Pick 125
• Round 4: Pick 131
• Round 5: Pick 171
• Round 6: Pick 191
• Round 6: Pick 198
• Round 6: Pick 202
• Round 6: Pick 212
• Round 7: Pick 247

Rapoport also mentioned that the fact that the Eagles already re-signed tight end Dallas Goedert takes urgency off the team. Hence, the Eagles could have up until June to make a trade with AJ Brown included. The Rams are not likely to pursue Brown strongly now that they don’t have leverage, but the Patriots are still very interested.

Brown has been instrumental for both the success and dysfunction on the Eagles. While he is one of the most unguardable players in the league, he is also one of the biggest divas in the NFL. He creates chaos in favor of and against his team.

DeVonta Smith might be on the verge of a career year

If Brown leaves, the Eagles won’t have to go to the market for a new WR1. In that case, DeVonta Smith would just be “promoted” to be the primary target. He has the talent, he has the skill set, and the familiarity with the team and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

During his five seasons in the NFL, Smith has had three 1,000-yard seasons, and in the ones that haven’t reached that mark, he still had 916 and 833 despite losing games due to injury. If he doesn’t have to share snaps with Brown, Smith could get absolutely unleashed.

Goedert is back with the team and that impacted Brown’s situation

The fact that tight end Dallas Goedert was re-signed gets the urgency to trade Brown a few notches down. The deal provides financial flexibity for the Eagles. Now, the Eagles don’t have to navigate disastrous salary cap penalties.

Thanks to the Goedert deal, the team avoided $20 million in dead cap. This gives more leverage to the team by trading Brown to the best suitor. They can negotiate without a rush.

While Philadelphia has not officially placed the three-time Pro Bowler on the trade block, league insiders report that General Manager Howie Roseman has engaged in serious conversations with both interested parties. Multiple league sources told PFT that the trade is “inevitable.”

The timing of a potential deal is the biggest hurdle remaining for any interested suitor. While teams like the Patriots are making a strong push, the financial implications for Philadelphia change significantly after June 1st, when the dead cap hit for trading Brown would drop from over $43 million to roughly $16.4 million.

Which team has the best chance to land A.J. Brown?

The New England Patriots have emerged as a frontrunner due to their desperate need for an elite offensive weapon after the departure of Stefon Diggs and their significant cap space. Following their recent addition of Romeo Doubs, they still need to acquire a WR1 after Diggs’ exit, and that’s where Brown would enter.

On the other hand, the Los Angeles Rams remain a fascinating “wild card” in the sweepstakes. Though they recently traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie, Sean McVay’s offense is always looking for explosive playmakers; adding Brown to a room that already features Puka Nacua and Davante Adams would create a dangerous trio.

For now, the Eagles appear content to wait for an offer they cannot refuse. If a trade does not materialize before the draft, expect the rumors to reach a fever pitch as the June 1st financial deadline approaches, potentially ending A.J. Brown’s era in Philly.

If AJ Brown leaves, who will be the Eagles’ WR1?

If the Eagles do trade A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith would step in as the WR1. Nevertheless, they would most likely target a top prospect in the draft, using a first-round pick on a replacement.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, if they trade Brown and do not land a top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, problems may arise. DeVonta Smith is a solid wideout, yet the depth behind him would raise concerns among fans.

In this way, Drake Maye now has a more than interesting group of receivers ahead of the upcoming season. The depth chart is now composed of: Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III, Kyle Williams and the aforementioned Doubs.

The agreement for the incorporation of the now former Packers player is for a total of $60 million over three seasons. A great move by the Patriots’ front office to support Maye.

Doubs was one of the names that sounded the strongest to arrive in New England, being a great desire of Vrabel and his staff. During his time in Green Bay, he had 202 catches and 21 TDs.

Filling the void left by Diggs

Stefon Diggs concluded his 2025 campaign with 85 receptions, 1,013 yards, and 4 touchdowns, maintaining his status as a high-volume threat. To successfully fill the void left by such a productive veteran, Romeo Doubs must build on his recent performance of 55 catches, 724 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

While Diggs excelled in total yardage, Doubs showed superior efficiency in the red zone; therefore, his path to becoming a true replacement lies in increasing his overall target share to match the consistent 1,000-yard production that Diggs provided.

In a deal that was finalized in the final hours of Monday, Vera-Tucker agreed to join Foxborough with a three-year, $42 million deal that can be worth up to $48 million, according to Diana Russini via X.

Two of the teams that also strongly competed to keep him were the Giants and the Browns, with the New York team having the best chances. However, one detail tipped the balance in favor of the Patriots.

As reported by NFL reporter Connor Hughes, the player and the Big Apple franchise reached an impasse over the length of the contract, which could not be resolved and erased the chances of John Harbaugh adding an important defensive player.

New England adds a pillar to its defense

While Vera-Tucker’s impact is undeniable when he is on the field—proven by his elite 77.7 PFF grade in his last healthy stretch—his recent history with the Jets was defined by bad luck, including a torn triceps that cost him the entire 2025 season.

For the Patriots in 2026, the guard is expected to slot in as the starting left guard, creating a formidable wall alongside young star Will Campbell to protect quarterback Drake Maye.

If he can overcome his injury woes (having missed 41 games over the last four years), New England is getting a versatile blocker who can solidify an offensive line that was instrumental in their recent Super Bowl run.

Beyond his potential destinations, it’s well known that the wide receiver will not be a cheap player to acquire. The question now is: how much are the Eagles asking to part ways with one of their key offensive pieces?

According to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, a top executive from the franchise stated that Philadelphia wants a first- and second-round pick for the former Ole Miss Rebels standout.

His time in Tennessee linked him with Mike Vrabel, now the head coach of the Patriots. Will New England be willing to pay what the Eagles are asking for Brown, or will they instead try to negotiate to lower those demands?

Searching for an elite receiver

After Stefon Diggs was released by Patriots earlier this month due to a significant salary cap hit, New England has shifted its focus toward acquiring a true elite playmaker for quarterback Drake Maye.

Diggs provided a solid veteran presence with 85 catches and over 1,000 yards in 2025, but his departure leaves a void that the front office hopes to fill with a high-impact target like A.J. Brown, Mike Evans, or Alec Pierce.

While Brown remains a premier trade target and Evans offers veteran reliability, Pierce has emerged as a compelling free-agent candidate after leading the league in yards per reception, making him a potential long-term vertical threat for the 2026 season.

The QB room is perhaps one of the most important pillars in a team’s structure in this league, and Mike Vrabel has secured Tommy DeVito as Maye’s primary backup for at least the next two years.

“New England reached agreement today with QB Tommy DeVito on a two-year, $7.4 million deal that includes $2 million guaranteed, per his agent Sean Stellato,” the insider Adam Schefter revealed on X.

It will be a matter of watching how events continue to unfold in New England to see which other reinforcements join the team and which players, unfortunately, will not return for the upcoming season.

Rumors of moves in Foxborough

Following the team’s recent AFC Championship run and Super Bowl LX appearance, the New England Patriots’ front office is aggressively retooling their roster to better support young quarterback Drake Maye.

The most significant move in this strategy was the Stefon Diggs release, a calculated decision to avoid a massive $26.5 million cap hit and gain nearly $17 million in flexibility.

With the Patriots salary cap in 2026 projected to be among the healthiest in the league despite a rising league-wide limit of over $301 million, rumors are swirling about high-profile replacements.

Speculation has reached a fever pitch regarding a potential trade for A.J. Brown, who has strong ties to head coach Mike Vrabel, as well as interest in veteran star Mike Evans and explosive playmaker Travis Etienne to revitalize the offense for another title run.

This move has sparked speculation that the Patriots could target younger options like Alec Pierce as part of a broader strategy to balance talent and long-term flexibility.

According to a report from Jordan Schultz, Mike Vrabel and the Patriots are actively evaluating key names on the wide receiver market. “Per sources, the Patriots have been in on the big names on the WR free-agent market next week and are believed to be prepared to spend big. Alec Pierce is among the names they’ve been eyeing. The trade market is also an option.”

Did the Patriots release Stefon Diggs?

Yes. The Patriots released Stefon Diggs, parting ways with the veteran wide receiver in a move that opens up both salary cap space and opportunities to retool their receiving corps ahead of the upcoming free‑agent period.

For the Patriots, the release of Diggs represents both a challenge and an opportunity. While losing a top-tier receiver is significant, targeting someone like Alec Pierce could provide a cost-effective, high-upside solution. Also, controversies off the field could have been a factor.

Now, combined with flexibility in the trade market and the salary cap, New England’s front office appears ready to take aggressive steps to make another Super Bowl run.

Shortly after news of the transaction broke, Diggs took to social media to reflect on his lone season in New England. “Thank you for a hell of a year. We family forever,” Diggs shared via his Instagram account, marking a graceful exit despite a tumultuous few weeks of speculation regarding his fit within Mike Vrabel’s long-term plans.

The release of Diggs appears to be the first domino to fall in a broader Patriots roster reset. New England’s front office is aggressively clearing cap space to retool a squad that struggled to find its offensive rhythm on the game’s biggest stage.

The move leaves a significant void on the Patriots WR depth chart. With Diggs gone, the focus shifts to internal solutions like Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, though the team is widely expected to be active in free agency and the draft to find a true WR1 for Drake Maye’s third season.

Finding a potential home for the veteran wideout

While it’s early in the free agency cycle, the 32-year-old Diggs enters a market already buzzing with high-stakes movement. Different contenders who have cleared roster spots or draft capital in recent days could view the four-time Pro Bowler as the missing piece for a 2026 title run.

The Kansas City Chiefs are seen as a logical suitor for Diggs, as well as the New York Giants which are still desperate for a veteran boundary threat, and remain a team to watch as the Giants look to upgrade their pass-catching corps.

As the legal tampering period approaches, Diggs has the luxury of being a “vested veteran” who can sign immediately. Entering his 12th NFL season, the veteran wideout now has the opportunity to choose his next destination as he seeks the elusive Super Bowl ring that slipped through his fingers in Foxborough.

Stefon Diggs will now have to find another team to play for in 2026. On Wednesday, Tom Pelissero reported that New England will release the wide receiver, who failed to win his first Super Bowl after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

Without Diggs, the team’s depth chart has been updated. Kayshon Boutte is now projected as the WR1, followed by Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, Jeremiah Webb, and John Jiles. However, the Patriots are expected to add another top wide receiver to fill the void left by Diggs.

What’s next for Stefon Diggs?

Stefon Diggs will be playing for a new team in the 2026 NFL season. The Patriots are set to release him at the start of the league’s new year, officially making him a free agent eligible to sign anywhere for the upcoming campaign.

The talented wide receiver put together a solid 2025 season, emerging as a key target for Drake Maye. For that reason, Diggs’ release could create an opportunity for teams like the New York Giants or the Kansas City Chiefs to pursue a proven playmaker ahead of next season.

The former Buffalo Bills standout is expected to draw significant interest in free agency. However, it appears he may have preferred to remain in New England, as he broke his silence following the Patriots’ decision to release him with a sentimental message.