Whenever you have a special quarterback, you have to do whatever it takes to give him a prime weapon. The New England Patriots found their guy in Drake Maye, so it only made sense that they went all-in to get him an elite sidekick.
Trading for A.J. Brown has the potential to be a league-shattering move. Not only will he work wonders for Maye's development — he might look like a vet but is entering his third year — but he'll give this team a true 1A to build an offense around.
That's why team legend Julian Edelman went as far as to compare Brown's arrival with the Randy Moss era. Hopefully, though, Brown's tenure in Foxborough will end on a higher note — with a Super Bowl ring.
A.J. Brown will unleash the Patriots' passing game
“A.J. Brown, that’s a 1A. A real 1A. They probably haven’t had someone like that since Randy Moss,” Edelman said on the 'Patriots Talk' Podcast. "Drake taking control out there and having a lot more weapons. Bringing in Romeo Doubs. The new tight end [Eli Raridon] looked big. I like the additions they brought in.”
Even in a down year, Brown topped 1,000 passing yards with ease. That was despite playing in an inefficient offensive system, with an unproven play-caller, and with a quarterback that A) didn't seem to want to get him involved and B) couldn't make the most of his talents.
Maye has already shown elite anticipation and an impressive ability to hit receivers in stride. Unlike Jalen Hurts, he can see and use the middle of the field efficiently, helping Josh McDaniels deploy A.J. Brown's route tree in its entirety.
Also, Brown's insane catch radius and ability to haul in almost everything that comes in his area should make Maye's life significantly easier. Thinking about 1,500 receiving yards and 8-10 touchdown grabs shouldn't be out of the question.
Of course, comparing players is often futile and sets the fans up for disappointment. And as great as Brown is, he still has some leaps to take to be in the same conversation as the one and only Randy Moss. As for Drake Maye, this is the worst he'll ever be, but he's no Tom Brady.
All things considered, the Patriots' passing game should be even better in 2026, even against tougher competition. Maye should be more comfortable in the offense in his second training camp under McDaniels' tutelage, and Brown's impact has already been more than evident in joint practices.
The Patriots have had their fair share of legends, so the bar will always be high here. However, Maye has never seemed rattled by Brady's shadow, and Brown plays with the confidence and the violence of someone who knows he can't be stopped one-on-one.
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