It’s being speculated that the New England Patriots are one of the teams interested in a possible trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, and although a reunion with head coach Mike Vrabel is enticing, adding Brown to this wide receiver room wouldn’t be a good move to make in the middle of the season.
On one hand, adding a receiver of Brown’s caliber is the ultimate goal for any team, right? On the other hand, though, there’s more of a risk of ruining something good that’s already building in New England with second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who’s currently developing and establishing valuable chemistry with his receivers.
Potential AJ Brown Trade Could Hurt Patriots' Chemistry
On paper, the Patriots might not have a true No. 1 wide receiver, but they have just enough for Maye to be successful. And after a six-week sample size, Maye is performing as one of the top quarterbacks in the league this season.
- 1,522 Passing Yards (5th)
- 73.2% Completion Rate (2nd)
- 53.3% Success Percentage (3rd)
- 10 Touchdown Passes (9th)
- 112.5 Passer Rating (4th)
They might be lacking a true No. 1 wide receiver, but what the Patriots do have is a group of players that each have their own skillset that is proving to be enough talent for Maye to get everyone involved and run an efficient offensive system, which is what offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said last week during his press conference on his offense having a different leading receiver each week.
“It’s unique. (Kayshon Boutte) was our leading receiver in Week 1, and Rhamondre (Stevenson) in Week 2, and Hunter (Henry) in Week 3, and (Stefon) Diggs in Week 4," McDaniels said. "And I think that’s a sign of the quarterback trying to throw it to who’s supposed to get it based on the coverage and how they’re playing us and what the right matchup is.”
I’m not saying that the Patriots have the best set of wide receivers, but it is a perfect group for Maye to learn a new offensive system with and continue his own development in his second year. By adding a new WR like Brown into the mix, or even removing a current receiver, it could become detrimental to the offense.
Brown has been on the fast track in the NFL since he was drafted in the second round by Vrabel and began his career in Tennessee. He led the league with 12.5 receiving yards per reception as a rookie in 2019 and has since flourished into one of the best wideouts in the game.
The three-time All-Pro receiver is presumed to be currently unhappy with his situation in Philadelphia and isn’t on the same page with quarterback Jalen Hurts despite winning the Super Bowl together last season. He has 25 receptions for 274 yards and a touchdown in six games this season, and could be looking for a fresh start to get things going again. As tempting as it might be, the Patriots shouldn't be the team to give him that opportunity.
There's a good thing cooking in New England; if it’s not broke, then don’t fix it.