The discourse around the Patriots trading for AJ Brown has been widely optimistic and excited about what the wide receiver can accomplish in 2026 with Drake Maye and the rest of the offense.
Within that conversation has been a lot of talk about what the Eagles got out of the trade, or better yet, what they lost, and for the most part, Philly fans are overlooking just how much Brown's absence will inevitably impact their offense.
Maybe it's coping after losing a big-name player the way they did, but it's clear that they have already moved on from the WR1, and many are starting a negativity campaign against him.
One of the key aspects of that has revolved around the health of his knee, which Brown addressed while speaking to reporters for the first time last week, and whether his age will become a factor in how he performs, especially since he recorded just over 1,000 receiving yards last season, the lowest since the 2021 season.
Fortunately for Patriots fans, Brown was quick to put out that fire as well and sent a direct message to all the doubters in Philadelphia that will surely not sit well with fans who are pretending to be happy that he's gone.
AJ Brown doesn't hesitate to address some of the biggest concerns about his career after joining the Patriots
While speaking to reporters last Tuesday, Brown had several moments that are now being referred to as "mic droppers" and even quotes of the day.
Among them was when he was asked how much he had left in the tank, and he was quick to respond with exactly what Patriots fans wanted to hear, and the complete opposite of what Eagles fans were hoping he'd say.
A.J. Brown had a mic drop moment when asked how much he has left in the tank yesterday 🔥
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) June 3, 2026
"You'll see." pic.twitter.com/seS5oMbscu
Although Eagles fans are going to put on a brave face and act like it doesn't matter that Brown is no longer on their team, his performance with the Patriots will prove that's not how they really feel, and we already saw a glimpse of that when QB Jalen Hurts' first pass at the practice after Brown was traded was an interception.
Things haven't looked much better in the days since, so it's clear that Brown was needed far more than fans are suggesting.
Fortunately for the Patriots, he will now become Maye's go-to weapon, and we've already seen the beauty of that connection at OTAs. It will only grow stronger as they continue to work together, and if the quarterback was an MVP runner-up last year, it's hard to imagine he won't be again in 2026 with Brown on the team.
He's clearly ready to go, motivated to be exactly what the Patriots need, and has given fans no reason to believe he has taken a step back, making it even more exciting to see what's to come.
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