Making a trade for Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown would be the simplest way for the New England Patriots to address their need for a No. 1 wide receiver.

But the most ideal way to find one of those dynamic players is acquiring them through the NFL Draft.

Nine of the top 10 wideouts in receiving yards last season still play for the team that drafted them. If you don’t draft a top-tier wide receiver, getting one via trade will be costly.

If the Patriots don’t end up making a deal for Brown, which wide receivers should they consider taking in the upcoming draft?

Let’s look at some intriguing fits.

Omar Cooper, Indiana

2025 Stats: 69 receptions, 937 yards, 13 TDs

Cooper is a reliable target, especially on key third downs and the red zone. He has little trouble creating separation and getting open. He saw plenty of snaps in the slot and outside for the Hoosiers, so he’d bring some versatility to New England’s passing attack.

Cooper played a key role in Indiana’s national title-winning offense by leading the team in receptions and receiving yards. Cooper also hauled in touchdown grabs against Alabama and Oregon in the College Football Playoff. Only three players in all of FBS had more touchdown catches than his 13 last season.

One of those touchdowns was arguably the play of the year:

KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

2025 Stats: 61 receptions, 919 yards, 9 TDs

Concepcion might be the best pure route runner in this WR class and would give the Patriots some much-needed speed at the position.

Here’s what our Patriots insider Phil Perry wrote about Concepcion in his first 2026 NFL Mock Draft:

“Explosiveness. Separation. Versatility. Those are three words that immediately come to mind when watching Concepcion.

“His quickness as a route-runner and burst with the ball in his hands are outstanding. Combine those traits with an innate feel for open spaces and a refusal to go down upon first contact, and you have a potential game-changer in Josh McDaniels’ offense.

“A transfer from NC State, Concepcion returned two punts for touchdowns this season with the Aggies. He’s not going to move people in the running game (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), and he dropped 19 passes over three seasons. But his ability to uncover and provide Drake Maye quick openings in the passing game could lead to bundles of easy yardage — and potentially fewer sacks for a quarterback who took a whopping 47 last season.”

Phil Perry is back with his first Mock Draft of the offseason.

Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

2025 Stats: 62 receptions, 1,017 yards, 9 TDs

Brazzell was a breakout star in the SEC last season who sett career highs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He’s a big target with impressive size, and he doesn’t mind blocking in the run game.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox views the Patriots as the best potential draft fit for Brazzell, describing him as “an explosive playmaker with an alluring combination of size (6’4″, 198 lbs) and speed (4.37-second 40-yard dash).” Knox also views Brazell as a “true deep threat at the pro level” who could thrive with a quarterback that has a powerful arm like Drake Maye.

Denzel Boston, Washington

2025 Stats: 62 receptions, 881 yards, 11 TDs

Opinions vary a bit on Boston, with some experts projecting him as a mid-first round pick while others view him as an early second-rounder. Boston is a true red-zone threat at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds with an impressive ability to haul in contested catches.

Does he have enough speed to be a top-tier wideout in the pros? Boston did not run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

However, he looked pretty good at Washington’s Pro Day last week:

A lot of positive feedback from scouts on WR Denzel Boston’s pro day yesterday. Looked really good with his route work and catching the ball.

6.80 3-cone, 4.30 shuttle, 37 1/2 vert at 210 lbs will play just fine.

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 18, 2026

Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State

2025 Stats: 57 receptions, 1,054 yards, 6 TDs

If it’s speed you want the Patriots to pursue in a wide receiver, then Thompson is a name to monitor.

Here’s what Perry wrote about Thompson in his 2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0:

“Thompson clocked a blazing 4.26-second 40 in Indy, hitting 23.95 mph in the process, per NextGen Stats. For context, the all-time 40 record-holder at the combine was Xavier Worthy (4.21 seconds in 2024), and the top speed he reached was a tick slower at 23.62 mph.

“Thompson led all Power 4 players with five catches of 50 yards or more. Though he checks in at just 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, he is suddenness personified and could be a valuable complementary piece for an offense focused on generating what Vrabel calls ‘X plays.'”

Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

2025 Stats: 36 receptions, 630 yards, 5 TDs

Fields has great size at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds. Despite not having top-end speed, he was a big-play threat (17.5 yards per catch) for the Fighting Irish and rarely dropped passes. He tracks the ball in the air very well.

An impressive showing at the Senior Bowl might have boosted Fields’ stock a bit, but he’s still likely to be a Day 2 pick that could go down as a steal depending on where he goes.