What A.J. Brown would bring to the Patriots' offense - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Eyes on A.J.: When Patriots receivers went through drills in practice last Wednesday, fourth-year pro DeMario «Pop» Douglas always took the first repetition.

Will that be A.J. Brown this week?

It is a question that has swirled around the NFL for months, with ESPN NFL senior insider Adam Schefter reporting in April that a deal between the Philadelphia Eagles and Patriots is tracking to happen on or after June 1 — a key date because the Eagles can spread Brown's $40 million cap charge over the next two seasons.

The Patriots are scheduled to hold voluntary organized team activities Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and seeing Brown on the field would add some sizzle to a headline-making offseason.

More importantly, he could fill the sizable No. 1 receiver void created when the Patriots released leading pass catcher/emotional spark plug Stefon Diggs in March. The team signed soft-spoken Romeo Doubs as part of the plan to replace Diggs, but that might not be enough for a Mike Vrabel-coached club looking to defend its surprising AFC championship.

«A.J. can still play. He would give the Patriots a legit, bona fide No. 1 wide receiver and a person in that room who can be a leader,» said former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon, who currently is a Sirius XM NFL Radio host. «Having the experience of playing under Vrabes [with the Titans from 2019-2021], he can also be a good purveyor of the message and teaching everyone else in the room what he is looking for.»

Not to mention a 6-foot-1, 226-pound target for quarterback Drake Maye to help diversify the passing game under coordinator Josh McDaniels.

«When motivated, A.J. Brown is