AJ Brown is the Patriots' offseason prize. Will it pay off?
- quansmith33
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
It's been a wild NFL offseason lately, with the Rams trading for Myles Garrett and, in the least surprising move of the offseason, AJ Brown going to New England. The New England Patriots might be the biggest losers in recent months. They got outclassed by Seattle in the Super Bowl, woe is me, offseason of acquisitions, and real-life soap opera drama off the field. Yet they got their biggest win by landing one of the elite receivers, AJ Brown, probably their biggest win since January.
AFC Title on the line
Look, the New England Patriots won't be sneaking up on anyone this season. The defending AFC champs will have to earn it back to the big game. Brown is really good and gives Drake Maye a true number option along with Mr. 70 million in Romeo Doubs. I was critical of New England's offseason moves because they lacked urgency to improve the team, particularly on the offensive side. Well, they are almost certainly better now. For AJ Brown, this is the latest redemption story. He was always a New England Patriot fan and gives this team something to talk about other than offseason distractions. I expect a motivated AJ to prove he is still that dude and have a 1,000-yard type season.
Will it pay dividends?
AJ Brown is very talented, yet this is his third team in seven years. Literally, he went from a Titan to an Eagle and now a Patriot. That is concerning, especially with all the smoke surrounding Philly last season and the offense. Whether AJ is an asset or a liability will depend on the day, yet that's not the only reason for concern. In their own division, their biggest competition, Buffalo, got a hell of a lot better on both sides of the ball, which won't serve them well. Also, the rest of the AFC is scary. Denver, Kansas City (If healthy), Baltimore, Houston, etc., will all be better.
Final takeaway
The New England Patriots were the definition of come up last season. They spent most of the offseason believing in internal development while waiting to land AJ Brown. Now that they have him, it's going to be an interesting season. Will they take a step forward to prove last season was a fluke? I am projecting a 10 or 11-win season for them, with maybe a chance at a deep playoff run. Will AJ Brown be the x-factor or the latest failure in Boston sports acquisitions?
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