It has not taken long for New England to welcome, crown and demand greatness from receiver A.J. Brown. He arrived in New England with huge expectations, but his early connection with Drake Maye is already pushing them even higher. After paying a steep price to land the former Eagles star, the Patriots are seeing enough in offseason work to believe Brown can become far more than a marquee addition — he could be the go-to weapon who helps unlock Maye’s next leap and elevate the entire passing game in 2026.
In fact, they've only had a couple of days of mandatory minicamp. Just some quick practice highlights and one trip to the podium have conjured images of 2007 Randy Moss among Patriot Nation.
Just how much can be expected from Brown, who, in his final season in Philadelphia, caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns?
Patriots paid big price to get A.J. Brown
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To be frank, when it cost the Patriots a 2028 first-round draft pick and a fifth-rounder in 2027, those 2025 numbers will not suffice. The upgrade in the guy delivering the ball to him – from Jalen Hurts with the Eagles to Drake Maye in New England – dictates that Brown has to raise the stakes.
Look, he won’t be Moss 2.0. In 2007, with an invigorated Tom Brady throwing, the Hall of Famer caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and 23 TDs. It would be unfair to expect that kind of output.
Brown himself provided the template for what might be the level the AFC champions are looking for. Back in 2022, Brown went from Tennessee with Ryan Tannehill to the Eagles and Hurts. The Ole Miss product went from 63 for 869 and 5 TDs to 88 for 1,496 and 11 TDs.
Better quarterback – and Maye was the runner-up in the 2025 MVP voting – equals better numbers.
See George Pickens for that one. After a sea of nothingness trying to get him the ball in Pittsburgh – Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields – he went to Dak Prescott in Dallas last year, tearing it up to the tune of 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine TDs.
Immediately impressed by Drake Maye
The QB is the key, and Brown seems to be delighted.
“The talent speaks for itself, he can make any throw. What’s more impressive to me is that he knows what he’s doing,” said Brown. “To be that young and to understand the defense, to understand every little check, the hots, the blitz, all those things, so young and so fast is very impressive.
“My motivation is just to come out here and be the best I can be every single day. I think things are off to a great start … I’m just trying to be where (Maye) wants me to be.”
