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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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The New England Patriots had a short turnaround between losing the Super Bowl to the Seattle Seahawks and preparing their approach for next season.
While New England looked impressive throughout their past season, winning all their road games, they were unable to handle the NFC Champions in the biggest game of the season. Seattle prevailed 29-13, with New England's Drake Maye unable to deliver in his sophomore season as quarterback.
The team faces a challenge with their 2026 schedule and will look to improve the roster, with some of those improvements likely to come from the upcoming NFL Draft. Others could happen via free agency and NFL trades.
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With the NFL Draft Combine underway, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was recently among those who spoke to the media and mentioned his relationship with star receiver A.J. Brown.
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“I’ve watched him grow. I’ve watched him mature. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of the father that he is and proud of the husband [he has become] and that has nothing to do with where he plays or where he played,” Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday.
"Those are the things that are important. We reach out and text each other during the things that happen, good to each other," he said of their relationship, also adding, "It's a two-way street of support and reminders of what got us to where we are here today."
Vrabel previously coached Brown when he was a member of the Tennessee Titans from 2019 through 2021. That time included multiple postseason appearances together, although the Titans never reached the Super Bowl like New England did under Vrabel.
Speculation ran rampant during the past NFL season about Brown's potential discontent with the situation in Philadelphia, and there were rumors that the team might also have wanted to part ways. That led to chatter about Brown getting traded to another team for next season.
A lot comes down to whether the Eagles feel Brown is still an integral part of their plan to contend for playoff runs to the Super Bowl alongside quarterback Jalen Hurts. If they determine he'll be an ongoing issue for the locker room and it will affect performance, don't be surprised to see him traded.
Trades can officially take place starting March 11, which marks the new calendar year for the NFL. ESPN reported on four speculative teams that could trade for Brown: the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Patriots.
According to ESPN's speculative report, a potential deal from New England might involve trading their 2026 first-round pick (No. 31), 2026 third-round pick, and 2026 sixth-round pick for Brown and the Eagles' 2026 second-round pick.
Vrabel already has a strong relationship with Brown, dating back to their days in Tennessee, when the team was successful. Most players are interested in furthering their legacy by winning games and achieving Super Bowl rings, something Vrabel's Patriots appeared on the verge of doing last season.
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