Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Blockbuster: A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots–Risky or Genius Idea?

Starting point is 00:00:00 We have the very latest on AJ Brown's status with the Eagles and why I think the Pats should be 100% in on Brown if he's available. This is Locked-on Patriots. You are Locked-on Patriots. Your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's happening? I am your host, Nick Cattles, born and raised in New England. Been covering the Pats for the past 16 years.

Starting point is 00:00:34 also the co-host of the Greg Bedard Patriots podcast with Nick Cattels and a sports radio veteran. Welcome to Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day. On today's show, the future of Harold Landry and why I do not agree with a writer on what ends up happening with the Pat's Edge. Also, we have the perfect veteran fit for this offensive line. But first, A.J. Brown, drama and all could be the answer at wide receiver one for the Patriots. Today's episode is brought you by Fandul. Use your profit boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA finals.

Starting point is 00:01:19 Play your game with Fandul, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. I am 100% in on trading for A.J. Brown. I've talked about this for the last few years with this football team. They need an alpha number one wide receiver. They need a guy that Drake May knows week in and week out can get open, make big catches, make plays down the field, make life easy for the young quarterback. And if not easy, at least easier. Here is the latest from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and others. You go back to the middle of December. Jeremy Fowler wrote,

Starting point is 00:02:00 several executives he spoke to believe the Eagles could look to move Brown. Diana Rusini, two weeks ago. Brown's situation with the Eagles is still unresolved, but his relationship with the team remains somewhat tenuous. From what I'm hearing, substantial conversations about his future have not yet taken place, but expect talks to ramp up around the NFL combine. Last time I checked, synchronized swatches. The combine starts on Monday right around the corner.

Starting point is 00:02:35 Back to Jeremy Fowler, who on Thursday wrote at ESPN.com, Philly must determine whether Brown will commit to the operation and be aligned with Jalen Hertz moving forward. I just don't see that happening. And I know A.J. Brown can go out there and he has his social media posts. And, you know, he's having some kind of camp in May that's set to be in Pennsylvania. I understand all of that. But looking at this product and looking at the relationship between Brown and Hertz over the past two or three years, along with the relationship between Nick Saryani and Brown,

Starting point is 00:03:12 it just feels like so much has been said, so much has been done, that it's time for each side to go their separate way. That's how it feels to me. I just don't think it's good for Philadelphia to bring A.J. back into the mix. I just don't think that it's going to work out. And at a certain point, no matter how talented somebody is, and no matter how much they can help you, too much has been done in that relationship.

Starting point is 00:03:40 It becomes toxic. And there's always going to be drama. I would just move on. Back to Fowler. If the Eagles are convinced that won't happen, a trade might be an order. The Eagles would absorb a dead cap hit of over $40 million if they deal Brown prior June 1st compared to less than 20 million in dead cap if a trade is consummated after that date. His current cap hit for 2026 is $23.4 million.

Starting point is 00:04:09 If you're the Eagles, right, if if the Eagles believe that Brown is done with them or that he's not going to be able to just put that other stuff aside and stop with the social media stuff and that he can't get on the same page with Jalen Hertz consistently enough, you just can't go through another season like that. And I'd imagine that the Eagles would want to deal Brown, even though the money would be tougher to deal with, I would imagine they'd want to trade him before June 1st, take that cap hit so you can have control over this year's draft

Starting point is 00:04:45 and try to replace Brown at wide receiver. Back to Fowler. Any move would come with initial sting, but free up money over the long term, which they could use to help sign some of their rising stars in line for second contracts, the team acquiring Brown would be responsible for his $29 million salary in 2026 and around $4 million in guaranteed money in 27. I'm not worried about the money for the Pats.

Starting point is 00:05:11 They can easily make it work with Brown. And I think it would make a ton of sense for the Patriots to trade for A.J. Brown. He's 6 foot 1, 226 pounds of vertical threat. This is somebody who can change. the game, drop of a dime. Mike Vrable, when he first got hired by the Patriots, he did all these interviews, as new coaches do, and he went around the world and explained how he loves bigger receivers, guys with large catch radiuses, and that is Brown.

Starting point is 00:05:43 That's why Vrable loved Brown in Tennessee. And Brown still has it. I know people will look at the counting stats and they'll say, really? Do you really want to trade assets for a guy who finished last year with under 80 catches and barely over 1,000 yards. And my answer would be absolutely. Yes, unequivocally. ESPN Seth Walder on A.J. Brown's 2025.

Starting point is 00:06:07 The underlying metrics suggest he was still elite. He finished sixth in ESPN's overall receiver score and was in the top 10 in open score. Bill Barnwell on Brown's 2025. Brown was 12th among wide receivers and yards per route run. And he did that in a Kevin Petulow led off that wasn't exactly winning Philadelphia Design Awards. And I think you bring Brown in.

Starting point is 00:06:34 He's going to play with a massive, a gargantuan chip on his shoulder in 2026. He is going to want to prove the football world wrong, that it wasn't him, it was hurts, it was that Eagles offense, he is still dominant. And if you add the element of Brown to this offense, you open up everything underneath. If Stefan Digst stays,

Starting point is 00:06:57 if you restructure that contract, you have the perfect slot receiver in the Josh McDaniels offense that can get open underneath. AJ Brown will force, will force teams to pay attention to him. We saw with the Patriots offense as we moved along in the postseason, teams were not afraid of doubling digs, taking him out of the game, and creating problems for the Patriots pass game. You have to add that outside element who can go. up and get it, who can make big plays, who will demand doubles. And A.J. Brown is that guy. He is still that guy. And I'm not worried about the distraction. I know people will look at it and say, well, Nick, look what he did in Philadelphia.

Starting point is 00:07:40 Why would he not do the same thing in New England? I'd start that answer with Mike Frable. And not just because Mike Vrable, I think, connects with his team better than Nick Siriani does from what we've seen. I also just think they have history. together. And they have respect. Brown respects Vrable. Vrable respects Brown. Brown has gone on record and waxed poetic most recently to Julian Edelman and Rob Gruncowski on their podcast about how Vrable, yes, he was tough on him in his rookie season, but he just talked glowingly of the coach. And we've heard Vrable speak glowingly of Brown. And so I think A.J. Brown would look at it and say, I get to go play for Mike Rable again. I get to go play for the Patriots, which is a team that I actually

Starting point is 00:08:32 rooted for and wanted to be drafted by when I was coming into the league. They have a young quarterback that could actually throw the football consistently deep. And I would imagine Brown would look at Drake May as more talented as a passer, certainly, than Jalen Hertz. And Brown would be the true number one option. He would be the number one guy. Now, with all of that said, I'm not overpaying for Brown. This is a theme for this offseason. I've continued to pound this and I will continue to pound it. Be aggressive. Don't be reckless. It's that balance you need to find. So how much would it cost? Well, back to ESPN, Seth Walder. His proposal at ESPN.com was that the Eagles would get the Patriots first round pick, a third round pick number 95 overall in this year's

Starting point is 00:09:24 draft and a sixth round pick. So a first, a third, and a sixth, the Patriots would get A.J. Brown, but they would also get Philadelphia's 2026 second round pick, which is 54th overall. Now, I would try to get Philly to bite on a package that was led by a second round pick instead of a first, but ultimately, I would do that deal. I would trade a first, a third, and a sixth for Brown in a second. I would make that deal because ultimately you're moving down 23 spots. That's what you're doing. You're moving down 23 spots and you're giving up a third for AJ Brown. And I think that's fair. To get something, you have to give something. And I also think that type of trade would give the Patriots flexibility in the draft because, yes, they would be

Starting point is 00:10:14 without a first round pick, but you're getting brown. And you would end up with picks 54 and 63. in the second round. And that opens the door for flexibility. You can move up. You can move back into the third round after giving up the third round pick. A lot of different things you could do at 54 and 63. If you end up with A.J. Brown 54 and 63 going into the second night of the draft, I think that's good business. I'd be fine with that trade. Bring A.J. Brown to New England. We have the perfect guy. Speaking of bringing people to New England, we have the perfect guy. Speaking of bringing people to New England, we have the perfect guy to fill an offensive line need. Talk about that next.

Starting point is 00:10:56 This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Ever wanted to experience the NBA finals live and in person? Fandul is giving you the chance to turn that dream into reality with their NBA sweepstakes. Here's how it works. Use your profit boost on any NBA future

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Starting point is 00:12:31 Are you all in like I am? Well, all in as long as it's not outrageous. Are you 100% in on an AJ Brown trade like I am? Throw your comment in here. And also don't forget to subscribe. 9,000 subscribers is the goal, at least the next goal. Then we'll have another one. All right.

Starting point is 00:12:51 In an earlier podcast, when I talked about the offensive line, I said I wanted to move Jared Wilson from left guard to center, let him compete for the starting center gig against Garrett Bradbury. That's what I want the Patriots to do. So one of the priorities of this offseason, if you're going to move Wilson to center, is to find a starting left guard. It is one of the top priorities of this offseason,

Starting point is 00:13:19 if that's where Wilson is going to be moved to. So if Joel Betonio does not retire. I really feel like he would be a perfect fit at left guard for the Patriots in 26. Let's start here. I always start here. The connection, the history. There's a connection, just like A.J. Brown with Mike Vrable, there's a connection between Joel Botonio and Mike Vrable. Also, Joel Betonio and Ashton Grant, the quarterbacks coach. Vrable and Grant were in Cleveland in in 2024, Betonio has spent his entire career in Cleveland. I do believe his entire career.

Starting point is 00:14:02 Just want to check that as I'm yapping. Make sure I have that right. But they were with the Browns of 24. And Joe Betonio was with the Browns in 2024. And yes, he has been with the Browns his entire career. So I was correct. Anyway, whatever. I want that connection because I trust Mike Vrable's evaluation of not only talent,

Starting point is 00:14:23 but people. And if Vrable believes that Betonio could be a great fit, then it would make all the sense in the world. You get a good, steady veteran to stick next to Will Campbell. And I think that's, as we've talked about before, I would love Joe Tuny to have been here. He's not. Wilson did the job for a year, up down.

Starting point is 00:14:49 I think, you know, to have a steady veteran, somebody you can trust, it's going to do the right thing, see things like stunts, probably at a higher level than a Wilson did, stick that guy next to Campbell. And if Wilson wins the starting center job, to have that steady, dependable hand

Starting point is 00:15:09 in between the two sophomore players just makes a whole heck of a lot of sense. The other thing about Betonio, before we get to how he actually played this past season, when you look at his attitude, when you look at his approach. Tell me if this doesn't scream Mike Vrable player.

Starting point is 00:15:27 Tell me this doesn't scream Patriots 2025 offseason acquisition. This is from Betonio's scouting report when he was going into the draft back in 2014. This was written by Nolan Naraki of NFL.com.

Starting point is 00:15:44 Betonio plays with vinegar and seeks to bury defenders. Nasty finisher. Effort and finish. who runs his feet on contact and consistently blocks defenders off the screen. Extremely tough and durable. I mean, come on, does this not scream, Vrable Guy? Plays with vinegar, buries defenders, nasty finish, tough and durable.

Starting point is 00:16:10 And on top of that, outstanding personal character and football character, work ethic, leadership, and responsibility are all exemplary. I mean, that's a perfect fit. Joel Betonio's scouting report reads like any scouting report that Mike Vrable would pray to wake up in the morning and read, especially for an offensive lineman. That checks every single box on and off the field. Now, I know that Betonio is not going to be the long-term guy. He's 34 years old right now, but he's the perfect. He's the perfect solution for the next year or two.

Starting point is 00:16:55 Again, if he doesn't retire, if he retires, then obviously you have no options. You don't have the Betonio option. But if he decides to come back, you plug him in, 2026, steady veteran play, great leadership guy. And he's still a good player. Pro football focus had him ranked 23rd overall at offensive guard. Again, that's combining all guard play, left and right side. So you have 64 guards in football. And Betonio was ranked 23rd.

Starting point is 00:17:29 That is a clear upgrade over what Wilson gave you last year. And if you go into camp with Will Campbell, Betonio, Wilson slash Bradbury, Owenu, and Moses, with, as I've mentioned before, a younger developmental right tackle and hopefully another young developmental guard. You go into camp in a few months with that offensive line. I would feel good about that. I would feel good about those five guys and my depth options. Ben Brown has a depth option as well.

Starting point is 00:18:06 Marcus Bryant, you continue to develop him. And I don't think it would cost you a ton. Spotrack. I know Spotrack has Betonio, his projected cap. number as like $12.9, $13 million. I would have to think to play for Vrable, to play for a team that just went to the Super Bowl after being stuck in Cleveland for the past 12 or 13 years. I would have to believe that Betonio, as he gets ready to turn 35 years old in October,

Starting point is 00:18:36 I would have to imagine that he would be open to the idea of signing a contract that's not at the tippity top of his market if it meant he got to play for Vrable and he got to play for a team that has a legitimate shot of winning their division and going on another postseason run. Joe Betonio would really be your Morgan Moses of 2026. The analogy. He would be the guard version of what Moses was for you at tackle in 2025. That's what Betonio would be at guard in 2026. the play, the attitude, the character, it all fits.

Starting point is 00:19:22 So if Betonio doesn't retire, I would love to see him in New England on a one or two-year deal to plug that hole, that left guard, and give you some extra time to develop the next guy. Coming up, the future of Harold Landry and where he might fit for the Pats. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the lockdown podcast. network, your team every day. Welcome to the five-hour energy flavor draft. We're all looking at every aspect of the draft to let you know which tasty flavors are the best and which just might be sleepers.

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Starting point is 00:20:27 How about confetti craze? A delicious blend of rich and buttery, freshly baked confetti cake, smooth vanilla frosting, and a sprinkle of sweetness in every single sip. Sweet birthday cake inspired flavor and notes of vanilla frosting and sugary sprinkles. Find your new favorite flavor of five hour and. energy shots available online at five hour energy.com or Amazon. Don't forget to like, comment, and of course, subscribe to this podcast. I appreciate every single one of you.

Starting point is 00:21:03 We are here every single day. I know radio, TV, they start to walk away from football more often this time of year, unless the Patriots have a top five pick because the top five pick is sexy to talk about. We are here Monday through Friday, locked on for you, breaking down this roster, breaking down any news that that comes about we are here locked on patriots Monday through Friday and we appreciate you Harold Landry you know there's there's a lot of attention being paid to the edge position we've you know paid a lot of attention to the edge position since the final game of the year that we no longer want to talk about and there's lots of

Starting point is 00:21:43 attention on calivan chase on as a matter of fact just during an episode this week I think it was yesterday's we broke down Caleb on Chase-on, and I explained why I'm not sold that Chase-on is absolutely gone from New England. But what about Harold Landry? What about Landry's future? Does he have a future in New England? When you look at Landry, you start with the injuries. He's just had over the past few years an accumulation of injuries, and it happened again

Starting point is 00:22:12 this season. And when he was leaving Foxborough after the game, we no longer want to. to talk about, he mentioned that he needs to get his knee fixed. So the knee injury that he suffered in the first month and a half of the year or so in 2025, that knee injury is significant enough to go under the knife. Now, how significant? We don't know. But he needs to get that knee addressed. It is serious enough to have surgery. So that's the first thing, the accumulation of injuries. Then you look at the fact that he turns 30 years old and just, a few months. He turns 30 in June. So happy early birthday to Harold Landry. But here's a difficult

Starting point is 00:22:56 part. Landry is actually guaranteed $11 million in 26. So he's not like Morgan Moses, for example, who is owed zero guaranteed money. He is not like Stefan Diggs, who is guaranteed only, I think it's $1.7 million. Landry is guaranteed. some significant money at $11 million. So what's the latest on Harold Landry in his future? Well, Christopher Price was with Mike Giardy on Mike's All-32 podcast recently, and he said the following, quote, I don't think Landry comes back, given the state of the knee, given the age. I don't know if they give that money to Caleb-on-Chase-on.

Starting point is 00:23:42 I don't think Landry returns, at least in this current form. If he does come back, he's going to take a pay cut, and I don't think he's going to take a pay cut. He probably has the worst chance of coming back in anyone of that group. I think if they do have to make that decision right now, they are leaning toward no. So Christopher Price says he does not believe that Harold Landry will return as a Patriot in 2026. I don't think, though, I just, I don't think that the Patriots are going to cut Landry. Because when you look at it monetarily, it makes no sense. His cap hit is $16.3 million.

Starting point is 00:24:26 His dead cap hit is $19 million. And when I look at that contract, when I look at the $11 million guaranteed, and I look at the $16.3 million cap, and I look at the $19 million in dead, I say Harold Landry to me is a prime restructure candidate. And I know that's what Christopher Price is kind of talking about there when he says he's going to have to take a pay cut. Well, pay cut, I'm not sure. What you can do is you can mess around with the Harold Landry contract so you can lower his cap number. You can give him most of his guarantee.

Starting point is 00:25:04 You know, you can give him a signing bonus and then say, all right, there you go. and you restructure his deal, and the cap hit is no longer 16.3, the dead money's different. Like, I think he's a prime candidate to be restructured. I can't imagine that the Patriots are going to hand Harold Landry $11 million to walk away. Maybe I'm wrong.

Starting point is 00:25:28 And if I'm wrong, I'll be the first one to say, I'll raise my hand, I was wrong. But I just don't think that makes business sense. Yeah, hey, we, we, we, owe you a guaranteed $11 million, and you'll be worth $19 million of dead cap money, but we're just going to release you. Doesn't make sense to me. Financially, that would be a terrible move.

Starting point is 00:25:54 It just doesn't add up. And I think, you know, I do think that Landry could work. You add a couple of void years. You give them some signing bonus to spread the cap hit. I do think Landry would have some value in a rotational kind of role. I don't think you go into 2026 saying to yourself, Harold Landry is one of our top two edges or Landry is our top edge. I don't think you do that, not with the injuries, not with the age.

Starting point is 00:26:29 But I don't think it's crazy to go into next season saying, yeah, Landry can help us. he might play 20, 25 snaps a game, but he can help us. He does a good job setting the edge in the run game, which he does when he's healthy especially. When he's healthy, he can still get to the quarterback. And I don't care if it's 20, 25, 30 snaps, whatever it is, if you can get to the quarterback every once in a while, you are valuable to a defense. So I still think he can get to the quarterback from time to time.

Starting point is 00:27:03 I still think he can set the edge. And I would manage his snaps. You see how the Patriots handled a lot of guys. And they did handle Landry in this way after the injury. But even if he's 100% healthy, say he goes into 2026, 100% healthy, gets the surgery he needs. I am managing him. I'm managing him through camp. I am managing him through practice weeks.

Starting point is 00:27:29 And I'll roll him in and out because he's the type of player that, again, he can play the run and he can play the pass. And I think he would be a very, very solid third defense event, let's say, which means, of course, you're going to go find two guys this offseason. But I'd be comfortable. Even if you want to split the snaps and say he's a quasi-2, he's a 2B, and he's just splitting snaps with somebody else. Say you go out and you sign somebody or you keep chase on, that's your defensive end

Starting point is 00:28:00 one, which, again, I think you. want to upgrade there, but let's just say you sign somebody, that free agent is on the left side or you trade for Max Crosby. You got Crosby or player X on one side, and then you draft a defensive end, and you've got like, you know, that defensive end that you drafted with Elijah Ponder and Harold Landry, Anthony Jennings is still around, and you make the best out of that mix of players. but I do think he could bring you some value if you could just keep him healthy. And I just think the money, the money means it's very hard to believe that he's going to be gone.

Starting point is 00:28:42 And I don't see it. Again, if I'm wrong, I'll be the first one to say I'm wrong. That wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an every dare. Reach out to me on Twitter. It's at Nick C. Radio. Don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel. Don't forget to hit that like button.

Starting point is 00:28:58 and don't forget to subscribe. And if you're looking for a gift for someone, make it easy. Check out the everydayer club. Add free episodes of this show, exclusive Discord server access, and more, $5 a month, bucket a quarter a week,

Starting point is 00:29:12 $50 for the year. Subscriptions can be gifted through lockdownpatriots. com. Have a great weekend, and we will see you on Monday.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Blockbuster: A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots–Risky or Genius Idea?

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