NFL - The Athletic on A.J. Brown

ArticlePatriots go all in with trade for WR A.J. Brown: What it meansCaptured July 6, 2026
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They're all in after pulling off a blockbuster trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown in a bold and pricey move that nets them their most accomplished wide receiver since Randy Moss.

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Patriots land game-breaking WR A.J. Brown to pair with MVP-caliber Drake Maye

A.J. Brown acquired by Patriots in blockbuster trade (2028 first-round pick and 2027 fifth-rounder) to pair with Drake Maye; the source describes him as 'their most accomplished wide receiver since Randy Moss' and a 'game-breaking player who will keep defensive coordinators up at night.' Brown caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025 despite playing in Eagles' 15th-ranked EPA offense; he has crossed the 1,000-yard threshold in six of his seven NFL seasons. The Patriots have had only two receivers cross 1,000 yards in the last seven years (Stefon Diggs and Julian Edelman). Brown's skill set addresses a decade-long Patriots weakness: landing a difference-making outside wide receiver who can win on the outside, create after the catch, and open up the middle of the field. In the red zone, Brown has 10 touchdowns in his last 18 games, and the Eagles ranked first in TD percentage with him, while the Patriots ranked 24th in scoring percentage and 17th in TD percentage last season.

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