The New England Patriots walked off the field after a 29-13 Super Bowl 60 loss to the Seattle Seahawks with more than disappointment lingering in the air.

They left with clarity.

If the franchise intends to capitalize on the rapid rise of quarterback Drake Maye, it must surround him with more firepower.

Maye, just 23 years old and in his second NFL season, finished as the runner up in MVP voting after a dazzling regular season campaign.

Yet the postseason told a more complicated story.

Across four playoff games, Maye threw six touchdowns against four interceptions, completed just 58.3 percent of his passes, and absorbed 21 sacks.

The physical toll and schematic limitations became evident under Super Bowl pressure.

While offensive line inconsistencies and situational play calling played roles, one glaring issue persisted throughout the postseason run.

The Patriots lacked a true, dominant No. 1 wide receiver capable of dictating coverage and winning consistently downfield.

Veteran Stefon Diggs delivered a productive season, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards and becoming the first Patriots wideout to do so since Julian Edelman in 2019.

However, Diggs primarily operated from the slot.

Maye’s statistical profile reveals a quarterback who thrives vertically.

He led the NFL in yards per completion at 8.9 and ranked second in completions of 20 yards or more with 67.

The disconnect between quarterback tendency and receiving personnel proved costly in high leverage moments.

A new proposal from Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton offers a bold solution.

The Patriots, he suggests, should pursue a trade for A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Brown, a three time Pro Bowler, has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in seven of his eight NFL seasons.

Since joining Philadelphia in 2022, he has amassed 367 receptions for 5,034 yards across four years.

Reports from Bleeding Green Nation indicate Brown expressed dissatisfaction during the season and requested a trade multiple times.

A change of scenery could recalibrate both his outlook and production.

Pairing Brown with Maye would instantly reshape New England’s offensive ceiling.

Unlike Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who connected on 20 plus yard throws only 40 times last season, Maye consistently pushes the ball vertically.

Brown’s ability to win on intermediate crossers and deep posts aligns seamlessly with that aggression.

Under this proposal, Diggs would shift naturally into a complementary No. 2 role, attacking mismatches underneath while Brown commands defensive attention.

The price, however, would not be insignificant.

Moton proposes the Patriots part with their 2026 third round pick, currently projected as the 95th overall selection.

In addition, eight year veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III would head to Philadelphia.

Davis, who signed a three year, 54 million dollar contract last offseason, recorded 10 pass breakups while allowing a 90.7 passer rating in coverage during his first year in New England.

For the Eagles, Davis could stabilize a secondary that rotated personnel at the No. 2 cornerback position throughout the year.

For the Patriots, sacrificing defensive depth would represent a calculated gamble.

Yet context matters.

Head coach Mike Vrabel, who guided Tennessee during Brown’s early career, now leads New England after orchestrating its first Super Bowl appearance in seven years.

Vrabel understands Brown’s competitive edge and locker room intensity.

Reuniting them could unlock familiarity and accountability.

From a roster building standpoint, the Patriots must decide whether incremental draft capital outweighs immediate offensive transformation.

Maye’s rookie contract window provides flexibility.

Elite quarterbacks demand elite weapons.

Failing to maximize that pairing risks stagnation in an AFC increasingly defined by explosive offenses.

The Patriots’ Super Bowl defeat underscored how thin the margin becomes against complete teams.

Seattle’s defensive adjustments limited explosive plays and forced New England into prolonged drives.

Without a receiver capable of tilting coverage vertically and physically, Maye faced compressed windows and elevated pressure.

Adding Brown would not guarantee a return to the championship stage.

But it would signal strategic aggression.

It would communicate that the organization recognizes its quarterback’s strengths and intends to amplify them.

The question is not whether A.J. Brown fits.

It is whether New England is prepared to pay the premium required to alter its offensive identity.

After Super Bowl 60, one reality stands uncontested.

Drake Maye needs help.

Whether that help arrives in the form of a blockbuster trade may define the Patriots’ trajectory in 2026 and beyond.