Why AJ Brown is key to further elevating Patriots QB Drake Maye’s game

There has been no bigger move that the New England Patriots have made in the offseason than their acquisition of star wide receiver AJ Brown.

The three-time Pro Bowl wideout and one-time Super Bowl champion Brown arrived in Foxborough in June following a Pats trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. In return, the Eagles received a first-round pick in 2028 and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2027.

With Brown, the Patriots have a clear No. 1 option downfield, and another major weapon in the passing attack for quarterback Drake Maye.

Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel is a big believer in this move by the Patriots, and he sees great things happening for Maye and the team’s offense with Brown in the fold.

“AJ Brown is a bona fide number one receiver. Six of his seven years in the NFL, over 1,000 yards. And he had 32 touchdowns in four years in Philly. And I still think he was underutilized in that pass game. So you put him with Drake May and everything that they’re doing offensively, it’s going to make it be a huge step,” Daniels said on ESPN NFL Live.

Here’s the rest of Daniel’s take on Brown being with the Patriots.

"You put [A.J. Brown] with Drake Maye and everything they're doing offensively, it's going to be a huge step."

—@ChaseDaniel on the duo A.J. Brown and Drake Maye could be this year pic.twitter.com/sa9voSu7Yu

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 11, 2026

Stefon Diggs used to be Maye’s top target, but that changes now, with Diggs parting ways with New England in the offseason and Brown getting reunited with his former Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel.

Brown can be the game-changer that could further unlock the potential of Maye, who is entering just his third season in the NFL. After leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance last season, Maye is expected to get better still, considering that he will just be 24 years old when the 2026 NFL season comes around. In 2025, he passed for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns against eight interceptions through 17 games.

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