The 2026 offseason in New England has mostly surrounded the impending trade for wide receiver AJ Brown, with the distant date of June 1 circled on the calendar. As the weeks have passed, the idea of a deal coming together has strengthened, with NFL insiders suggesting it has unofficially been agreed upon but won't be completed until next month.
Now that it's only a few weeks away, Patriots fans are looking forward to what appears inevitable at this point: Brown suiting up with the team for the 2026 season. It's a long time coming for the fans and the receiver, since he grew up a fan of the team and was devastated when Bill Belichick didn't draft him in 2019.
At this point, it's better late than never, and plenty of fans are excited about what's to come, especially for Drake Maye in Year 3. But there are still others who are concerned about what getting Brown at this stage of his career will really do for the offense, regardless of how good he has been recently.
It's an issue that Patriots insider Mike Giardi addressed recently on the All 32 Podcast, and, fortunately for those with lingering concerns, he seems to have dispelled them.
AJ Brown has the potential to elevate the Patriots' offense to a new level in 2026
Speaking to the concerns about Brown's potential decline as he ages, along with whispers about potential knee issues, Giardi put most of them to rest by assuring fans the Patriots will still be getting an explosive option for Maye to work with, even if he isn't playing at the same level he did with the Titans.
On top of that, he believes Brown has the potential to look even better than he has over the last two years with the Eagles, as Giardi views Maye as a better fit for what he's capable of, along with reuniting with a head coach with whom he thrived to start his career.
“He’s not the same guy he was when he was 23, 24, when he was overwhelming dudes physically. But there is still that in his game. It’s just not maybe as consistent or as often as you want.
I think you’re gonna get a big bounce from him. I think, if he stays healthy. You’re gonna get the ideal of him being reunited with Vrabel and then with a quarterback who’s willing to push it into tight windows. Quarterback that’s willing to throw the ball over the middle of the field. That’s two things Jalen Hurts isn’t really willing to do. AJ Brown could have a great impact on the team.”
Giardi's take on Brown should help ease concerns about the shape that Brown is in for those who are worried about the Patriots giving up high draft capital for an aging player.
He might not be the 23-year-old he once was, but it has been far too long since the Patriots had a true WR1 and legitimate threat on their offense, so if they have a chance to get a player of Brown's caliber, then they have to take advantage of that opportunity.
He will transform their offense, which already looked strong for much of the 2025 season, and bring the group to a new level. Maye will have a new security blanket to work with, which will allow him to utilize one of his best skills as a quarterback: his deep ball throws.
Brown is arguably the missing piece on the current roster, so there's plenty to like about the value he will immediately bring to the offense. Whether he's the player he once was or not doesn't really matter because he will immediately be the best receiver on the team, and that's what they are looking for and need after a season that ended in the Super Bowl.
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