The Buffalo Bills have encountered a significant obstacle in their efforts to acquire one of the most sought-after wide receivers on the trade market. Not only are they no longer in the running for the star player, but they also appear destined to watch him join a top rival within their own division.
Prior to completing a major trade that brought DJ Moore to Buffalo from the Chicago Bears, the Bills were widely regarded as a prime landing spot for another standout receiver, A.J. Brown. Those trade rumors died down somewhat after the Bills successfully added Moore to their roster, but Buffalo was still viewed as a dark-horse candidate in the broader effort to supercharge their wide receiver room. The idea was that adding Brown alongside Moore would give the Bills one of the most formidable receiving duos in the league.
However, a recent update from an NFL insider has shifted expectations dramatically. According to new reporting, the New England Patriots have emerged as the likely destination for Brown, with a trade deal expected to come together just a few weeks before the start of training camp. This development is particularly painful for Buffalo, as it would place Brown on a division rival that the Bills face twice every season.
Citing league executives, Mike Sando of The Athletic reported that the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots are actively planning to finalize a deal for Brown sometime in June. One executive explained that the timing is crucial, as waiting until June allows the salary-cap implications to become far more manageable for the Eagles. The executive also offered a revealing perspective on New England’s offseason strategy, suggesting that the team’s smaller-scale additions to their wide receiver room were really just a prelude to landing a big fish like Brown.
“Execs expect the Patriots to acquire receiver A.J. Brown from Philadelphia in June, once the salary-cap implications become more tenable for the Eagles,” Sando wrote. The executive went on to express disagreement over what another receiver, Romeo Doubs, adds to the Patriots’ offense on a deal worth $17 million per year. That contract ranks 27th among all wide receivers, and the executive was not impressed.
“I was not high on Doubs,” the executive said. “They did not improve on the field from Stefon Diggs. Maybe they did off the field from a headache standpoint. It seems just a matter of waiting until June 1 passes for Philly to trade A.J. Brown, who in my opinion is a declining player each of the last three seasons.”
This critique cuts both ways for the Bills. On one hand, the executive believes Brown is no longer the dominant force he once was. On the other hand, the Patriots are still expected to add him, meaning Buffalo will have to contend with a motivated, highly-paid receiver twice a year. The Bills’ defensive secondary, already tested by the likes of Tyreek Hill and Ja’Marr Chase in the AFC, would now have to prepare for Brown as well.
More Rough News for the Bills
The potential loss of A.J. Brown to the Patriots is not the only troubling news for Buffalo. The Bills could also see another top-tier wide receiver heading to a different AFC rival. After the New England Patriots themselves cut ties with Stefon Diggs following this past season, the former Bills star has been repeatedly identified as a top target for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are looking to rebound from a disappointing 6-11 season and are in desperate need of proven playmakers.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently suggested that Diggs could head to Kansas City and immediately become the number one receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Such a move would be a nightmare scenario for the Bills, who already have a heated rivalry with the Chiefs in the AFC playoffs. Adding Diggs to Kansas City’s offense would give Mahomes a reliable, veteran target who has a history of torching Buffalo’s defense.
“The Chiefs need to add a wide receiver to a room that currently sports Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and not much else,” Davenport wrote. “Kansas City has also made something of a habit of bringing in veteran wide receivers who were cast off by other teams.”
This pattern of acquiring veteran talent has worked well for the Chiefs in the past, with players like JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeAndre Hopkins contributing to deep playoff runs. Diggs would fit that mold perfectly, bringing both leadership and a proven track record of production.
While there had been some concerns around Diggs after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2024, Davenport noted that the wideout bounced back in a strong way during the 2025 season. Diggs topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark, hauling in 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. He accomplished this while helping second-year quarterback Drake Maye take a significant developmental leap, ultimately guiding the Patriots on a surprise run all the way to the Super Bowl.
“Diggs is also coming off a quietly-solid season with the New England Patriots: 102 targets, 85 receptions, 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. Right now, Kansas City’s pass-catchers are more a weakness than a strength,” Davenport wrote. “The addition of Diggs could change that.”
For the Bills, the combination of these two scenarios is deeply concerning. Not only are they potentially losing out on A.J. Brown to a division rival in New England, but they also face the very real possibility of seeing Stefon Diggs, their former star receiver, suit up for Kansas City. That would mean facing Diggs in the playoffs, where he has plenty of experience and motivation to perform well against his old team.
The Bills’ front office now faces increasing pressure to respond. After trading for DJ Moore, many assumed Buffalo was finished reshaping its receiver corps. But with Brown heading to New England and Diggs possibly landing in Kansas City, the arms race in the AFC is only intensifying. Buffalo may need to explore other trade options or look to the draft to ensure they are not left behind.
As June approaches, all eyes will be on the Eagles and Patriots to see if the A.J. Brown trade becomes official. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are expected to remain active in their pursuit of Diggs. For the Buffalo Bills, the next few weeks could determine whether they keep pace with their top rivals or fall behind in the battle for AFC supremacy.
