Expectations for the Patriots' offseason were high after going on an unbelievable win streak to propel them all the way to the Super Bowl during a season most believed was going to be a wash, and for the most part, Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel delivered.
Not only did they make some crucial free agent signings to upgrade the roster, like safety Kevin Byard III, receiver Romeo Doubs, and fullback Reggie Gilliam, but they also made a blockbuster trade for A.J. Brown, seven years after the team was predicted to draft him in the first round but instead chose N'Keal Harry.
It's a mistake that will forever be connected to Bill Belichick, and it took this many years for the Patriots to make it right. That has made his arrival even more exciting for New England fans and set the bar high for what he can accomplish with Drake Maye.
That feeling is starting to catch fire across the league, too, as the third-year quarterback is about to have the best receiver he's had in his young career to work with, and he's just coming off a season that ended one vote short of winning MVP.
We're now hearing the hype with the 2026 regular season right around the corner, including former Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty, who envisions Brown seeking revenge in his first year with his childhood team, and that could only mean one thing for the Patriots: a lot of winning.
A.J. Brown's mentality might make the biggest difference for the Patriots' 2026 offense
During an appearance on ESPN's Get Up over the past week, McCourty spoke about what he believes the Patriots' 2026 season will look like, with a focus on what he expects to see from their newly added wide receiver.
He projects Brown will be "scorched Earth" and that he will have a standout first season in New England, thanks to his talent alongside Drake Maye and Josh McDaniels.
“I think he’s going scorched Earth in his revenge tour. He’s gonna be like that bad kid in the summer who’s been forced to stay inside and do summer reading.
Now he’s coming back to the playground to reassert his dominance. Being moved on by Philadelphia, traded to the New England Patriots, he is going to be with a superstar quarterback in Drake Maye and an offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels that knows how to get his key players the ball in positions to succeed. So, I’m looking for a big season from A.J. Brown.”
Given how his time ended in Philadelphia and all reports indicating it wasn't all positive, it's unsurprising to hear that Brown might be seeking some sort of revenge over his old team, even if it's just to prove that he can still be the explosive option that they seemingly gave up on last year.
That was presumably the root of his frustration over the last two seasons, and that appears to have boiled over to the point of Brown demanding a trade earlier this year. Fortunately for the Patriots, they were on the short list of teams he would agree to go to.
He can now become their best wide receiver since Julian Edelman during the 2020 season, even topping Stefon Diggs' 1,000+ yard performance last year.
Brown has crossed that threshold in six of his seven NFL seasons, with his most impressive statistical season coming in his first year with the Eagles in 2022, when he recorded 88 receptions for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns.
If there's a chance he's even more motivated now than he was then, when the Titans unexpectedly traded him despite Mike Vrabel's insistence that they don't, he could be in line for an even more productive year in Foxboro.
No matter what, the chip on Brown's shoulder could become a significant part of what drives him to have another incredible year, and the Patriots are going to be the ultimate beneficiary of that in more ways than one.
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