After months of speculation, the New England Patriots officially acquired star wide receiver A.J. Brown this past week. Brown arrived to the facility early Tuesday morning where he passed his physical and then practiced with the team.
That has expectedly been the primary focus here on Pats Pulpit the past few days, and there is even more uncovered about the All-Pro. For anything that fell through the cracks, let’s clean out the notebook. Welcome to this week’s A.J. Brown edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
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Earning his role
Patriots wide receiver coach Todd Downing has known A.J. Brown for a long time.
When Brown was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, Downing was on staff as the team’s tight ends coach before eventually being promoted to offensive coordinator. From his firsthand experience with Brown, he knows exactly how the receiver operates.
“I know his heart. I know his football mind. I know his competitiveness,” Downing said. “I think that helps navigate the difference between demanding and crossing a line. And I’m just fortunate to know the person.”
Brown now joins Downing’s wide receiver room in New England after the team traded a pair of draft picks — including a 2028 first-round pick — to acquire him on Monday. With three All-Pro selections, three Pro Bowl nods, and a Super Bowl ring, Brown instantly becomes the most accomplished receiver in the group.
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That status was acknowledged during Brown’s first practice with the team on Tuesday, when coaches and teammates encouraged him to lead the wide receivers through stretching lines and individual drills. Brown, however, chose to take his place at the back of the line.
“I got to earn that,” he said. “It’s a respect thing. I’m like, I got to earn that first, and I want to earn that. I want to earn those guys’ respect.”
It likely won’t take Brown long to earn that role. When he does, Browns hopes to be a valuable veteran presence in the wide receiver room, as Downing noted he soon-to-be 29-year old can have a demanding nature.
But as he showed by taking a backseat during drills, Brown understands that type of leadership comes with time.
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“It’s about getting to know them first. And obviously, you can see how far you can push him because, I just want to serve guys and help guys as much as I can, on the field, off the field, whatever I can do,” Brown said.
Based on their history together, Downing has high hopes about adding both the player and the person to his room — part of what made the trade such an easy choice.
“I can’t speak for any of my bosses, but I think part of the reason we feel comfortable about adding him to the mix is because we know what type of person he is,” Downing said. “I am very protective of the wide receiver room because I know how hard those guys work, how much they celebrate each other, they push each other. The culture of the room that I’m fortunate enough to coach is pretty special.
“I think AJ is just going to enhance and augment that. And already in the first couple of meetings we’ve had together, I watch his chemistry with the guys around him and the comfort level that the guys have with him coming in. I anticipate it being pretty cool.”
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Drake and A.J.
During a team meeting Tuesday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was cut off mid presentation by Drake Maye. It made a quick impression on his new teammate.
“Not in a rude way, but he just kind of took over,” Brown said. “It said so much from a young guy to know what he’s talking about No. 1, and to lead and to be the voice of this team.
“So when I heard that, I was like, ‘Wow. That was impressive.’ Obviously I heard great things about him, but that part alone tells me a lot about him and how much he loves his job and he studies and everything.”
A few hours later, Brown was out on the practice field admiring his new quarterback throw the ball. That included the duo’s first connection in a full-team period — a hitch route on the outside — on Brown’s first rep.
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The connection should only continue to grow between the duo, especially as Maye’s strengths as a passer line up with Brown’s as a receiver.
“I think it gives [Drake] a little bit of confidence knowing that he has someone who’s had success throughout his career in the National Football League doing something that Drake excels at,” QB coach Ashton Grant said. “I think it’s just exciting for the entire offense, because when you add a guy like that, it dictates coverages and it gives you favorable matchups across the board. So I think everybody on offense is excited.”
Knee issues
The Patriots are aware that Brown has a degenerative knee condition. However, as both the player and Mike Vrabel noted, Brown has missed just one regular-season game — plus one playoff game — because of the injury.
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That absence came in 2024, when Brown then needed to have his knee drained twice a week during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.
New England’s medical staff signed off on the condition prior to the trade, and Brown said there is no current concern.
“No injury,” he said. “That’s nothing to worry about. I’m good. I’m ready to go.”
No. 1
Throughout his NFL career, Brown wore No. 11 with both the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles. That wasn’t always his first choice, however, as his college number, No. 1, was unavailable at both stops due to Warren Moon and then Jalen Hurts.
With both No. 1 and No. 11 available in New England, Brown decided to return to his roots and wear the single digit. The decision was also influenced by the respect he has for Patriots Hall of Famer Julian Edelman.
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“Julian Edelman gave me his grace to wear 11, but I got so much respect and so much love for him, I’m going let that be, and I’m going to create my own legacy here,” Brown said.
Brown’s growth
Despite his early experience with Brown, Downing has not worked with the receiver since he was traded away from Tennessee in 2022. Even with Brown elsewhere, Downing has closely watched his game in Philadelphia and only has continued to see him improve.
“I think he’s grown in a lot of areas, both physically and mentally,” Downing said. “You can see his understanding in the game continues to improve. The way that he sets up different releases and moves has improved. Obviously, he’s a big physical and strong receiver, but he’s done a really good job of working at the top of the route and the catch point.
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“It’s cool to see him continue to grow and, and just in the couple of conversations I’ve had with him [Tuesday], I anticipate him staying hungry to keep improving.”
Contract structure
In acquiring Brown, the Patriots inherited the remaining four years and more than $100 million left on his contract. That includes $28.75 million guaranteed this season and another $4 million guaranteed in 2027. Philadelphia is known for its unique contract structures, and Brown’s deal is no exception, featuring annual option bonuses and a massive $53.52 million dead-cap charge in 2030 due to multiple void years.
It’s a contract that seems ripe for restructuring at one point or another. Just days into Brown’s tenure in New England, however, the Patriots were not ready to commit one way or the other.
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“He’s been here a day,” Mike Vrabel said Tuesday. “The plan is for him to practice and try to get acclimated. I don’t see anything that would preclude him from doing that.”
Winning investment
As Brown walked up the conditioning hill on his way to his first practice with the team, he passed a group of Patriots defensive linemen warming up for the day. They made sure to take notice.
“I think everybody was watching. Obviously, a new guy on the team, but the new guy being an All-Pro receiver,” defensive tackle Cory Durden said.
For Durden, the move to acquire Brown signaled just how serious the Patriots are about winning.
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“Just going to get a guy like that considering we went to the Super Bowl last year. I think that that’s the same expectation this year,” he said.
Eagles POV
Eliot Wolf told Yahoo Sports that he had been calling the Eagles about A.J. Brown for the last two years. Each time, he was laughed off. This time, however, things were different.
Why did things change for the Eagles? Beyond Brown expressing a desire for a fresh start, the combination of cap and cash relief plus draft capital made it “win-win for both sides,” according to general manager Howie Roseman.
“You can have a really good run with somebody, and just feel like, ‘Hey, the next stage of my career, I feel like it will be better served, kind of starting fresh’,” Roseman said. “The conversations with him overall were positive and just honest conversations, and I think it just kind of got to a point where it made some sense from both sides.”
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For Roseman, any deal needed to include a first-round pick, an asking price the Patriots ultimately met sending their 2028 first to facilitate the deal.
Gonzo’s game
Christian Gonzalez hosted his charity basketball game Saturday night back home in Texas. Brown was in attendance for the event, as were several of his new teammates such as Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Carlton Davis.
With the Brown trade now complete, Gonzalez’s status at mandatory minicamp next week will be the top storyline as he has not participated in voluntary OTAs. On Tuesday, Mike Vrabel said he “would imagine” Gonzalez is in attendance.
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Setting up the week ahead
After canceling the final week of OTAs, the Patriots will now host their three-day mandatory minicamp this week from June 9-11. All three days will be open to the media before the team then breaks until the start of training camp, which usually begins in the final week of July.
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