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“Best ever to play here. Always open.” That’s what New England Patriots star wide receiver AJ Brown, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles last week, wrote on a photo of himself at the Eagles’ facility before leaving for good last week, according to NFL Media.
Do you think Brown had second thoughts about the divorce?
Philadelphia traded Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, to New England last week for a first-round pick in 2028 and a fifth-round pick in 2027. The move came after Brown publicly expressed displeasure with his lack of scoring in the team’s offense last season, with the trade not happening until June 1 to help the Eagles spread the cap hit they took by trading Brown over the next two seasons; the 28-year-old Brown enters the first season of a three-year, $96 million deal.
Brown spent the last four seasons with the Eagles, notably helping them win Super Bowl LIX. Last season (2025), Brown totaled 78 receptions for 1,003 yards (12.9 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns across 15 regular season games.
During Brown’s four-year stay in Philadelphia (2022-25), he averaged 84.8 receptions for 1,258.5 yards (14.8 yards per reception) and eight touchdowns per reception. season. Brown ranks ninth in Eagles history with 5,034 receiving yards and is tied for 12th with 32 receiving touchdowns; he spent the first three seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans (2019–21) before being acquired by the Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft.
As for the receiver’s new home, Brown joins a Patriots team coming off an appearance in Super Bowl LX and teams up with quarterback Drake Maye, who was the runner-up for the 2025 NFL MVP Award. Maye led the NFL with a 113.5 passer rating and 72.0% completion percentage while leading a New England offense that ranked second in the sport in points (28.8 per game), third in total yards (379.4 per game), fourth in passing yards (250.5 per game) and sixth in rushing yards per game. game (128.9 yards per game). The Patriots released wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who led the team in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013) last season, in March.
We’ll find out this winter if Brown can become “the greatest ever to play” for the Patriots.
