PATRIOTS NEWS OFFICIAL: Patriots Finally Acquire AJ Brown

[One-If-By-Sea]

Only @sb1 and @Ring 6 are responding to me at this point. I think I added 20- posts in response. I think that is enough. I am going to the batting cage and the gym. Have a nice night everyone.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Well, we actually have results that can help answer that question.

The 2025 NFL Season.

I agree. The 2025 post-season where Brown stunk when he was manhandled.

 

[Family]

Ah, now I understand.
Another homer who has lost prespective and thinks the championship window is wide open.
It is Year 2 of a rebuild, get a grip.

We often agree, but I don't get your perspective now.

The wise thinking has always been get it during the QB's rookie contract.

Well it's year 3.

Yeah there are risks, but there aren't more than half a dozen guys I would want more. Even if you don't agree with that, they are still taking a shot during the window when the team is supposed to spend.

There's no more five year plans. Yes it will be harder this season with the schedule, but if Maye is really good (and they have to go ahead as if he is) the roster is good enough to take it's chances now.

Any WR comes with risks. It's one of the positions to overpay. I don't see a problem.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

One big point in favor of AJ Brown that some haven't considered is the financial aspect.



Since the Eagles took a large portion of the financial hit for trading Brown, this will benefit the Patriots salary cap.

If we assume that the Patriots pick up Browns' option each year and pro-rate it over the 5 years of the deal this is how he will impact our cap.

Year 1. 2026. $6.79 million.
Year 2. 2027. $10.956 million.
Year 3. 2028. $10.956 million.
Year 4. 2029. $32.75 million but ZERO guaranteed money. Patriots can walk away or negotiate an extension.

Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...les-aj-brown-traded-patriots-new-england-next

So in terms of salary Brown's first 3 years with the Patriots are very team friendly.
This allows us to continue loading up in free agency concurrently with Drake Maye's modest rookie QB salary.
Now if we want to keep Brown past 2028 then we need to get financially creative since he won't want to play with ZERO guaranteed money.

But now let's consider the average salary of a top 10 WR1 in the NFL is 30 million dollars and up.



For the next 3 years we get our WR1 for 1/3 the money that most teams PAY that position.
Also factor in we deferred the 1st round pick to 2028 whick makes it equivalent to a 2027 2nd in the trade value chart.
The AJ Brown trade could end up looking a very smart deal when we look back on it as long as he performs up to his usual standards.

First 3 years are very friendly indeed.

While 2029 isn’t guaranteed, the Pats will have a $46m dead cap charge if they don’t pick up his option for that year. And if they don’t pick up his option, the contract voids after the season so the Pats will have $53m dead cap charge in 2030, right when we need to start paying Maye serious money. I expect they’ll try to do something to his contract to get those amounts down, but for now that’s what will happen.

 

[Hyped]

Brown
Boutte
Doubs
Williams
Douglas
Chism III

This is a nice WR room......one guy to bust coverages (Brown with a "bad knee" and diva tendencies STILL will draw a safety over the top), three guys who are deep threats, and two guys underneath.....

==================

I am not so hot on giving up a 1st in 2028....but at least it is 2028...and the pick will likely be in the #18-#32 range. Don't care about giving up the 5th...we can find a UDFA to replace. But what kills me is the cap numbers the next 4 years: 15M, 21M, 32M, and 32M.....

 

[gobesmug]

What are people complaining about.

We gave up 1st rd picks for HCs, for cameras recording from the wrong location, and physics.

We give up a 1 rd pick for one of the best WRs in the game 2 years from now and it's thr end of the world?

 

[scott99]

Another thing I love about AJ Brown is the strength. Besides having strong hands, his strength shows up AFTER he catches the ball, breaking tackles. Short slant throws, he’s gonna catch it and fight for more yardage. Runs a curl, catches the ball, spins and breaks the tackle most of the time. 6’1” 225, just powerful.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[sb1]

Only time will tell who won the trade. I do not like home run swings in Y2 of a rebuild, I would perfer to keep the assets.

More like Y7 of the rebuild. You can thank Belichick for that.

Being too scared to do anything instead of trying to address holes that made you fall just short of winning it all with the clock running on your MVP caliber QB's rookie cost controlled contract until you have to pay him $80M+ a year to keep him- that doesn't seem smart to me.

 

[Family]

Show me any other NFL team that wins the SB in Y2 of their rebuild.

The 2001 New England Patriots. That was really year one.

This year was the exception, but the teams that won the decade before had the best QB. That's the era we live in.

They have to surround Maye with enough talent now to get him believing he's that guy every year.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

 

[The Gr8est]

What are people complaining about.

We gave up 1st rd picks for HCs, for cameras recording from the wrong location, and physics.

We give up a 1 rd pick for one of the best WRs in the game 2 years from now and it's thr end of the world?

You definitely make a gr8 point.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Best day in my Patriots life since we drafted Maye!

Thought maybe making the Superbowl last yr would make the list

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Cool and if they wouldn’t have traded him to you for a second are you comfortable with a Boutte/Doubs top tier duo going into next season? Because that sounds like a major step back

It really comes down to protecting maye and running the ball. If you can't do that doesn't matter who you have at wr

 

[BobDigital]

I am confused about the cap hit situation. I am hearing multiple different things about his contract here. I will just assume it to be a 3 year deal and that be the end of it. Which is fine as that is all within the Drake window.

Pats now have a huge discount at QB and at WR1 for the next 3 years. They should have an advantage over most NFL teams.

 

[jdlboot14]

I'm hopeful, and it's a nice boost for the "attractiveness" of the Pats after the last 6 years of being panned by FA's.

But, on the objective side - AJ is pretty slow. He was a 4.5 guy at 21yrs. He's probably a 4.6+ X receiver now.
We're counting on him being in perfect shape, and all about technique + physicality.

 

[Thelonious]

Well, this has been fun, but the real point here is a simple one: If you think this team is a single wide receiver away from genuine competitiveness for a championship, you are delusional. The work of building a comprehensibly solid roster is not completed. It is in a way unfortunate that last year's success has conveyed to some an erroneous perception that we are at that point, but that perception is merely another aspect of your deluded state.

 

[scott99]

That’s odd, was that his college # ?

 

[reflexblue]

Boy that Diana Russini has her finger on the pulse of the Patriots.

Thats not the only thing shes had her finger(s)on. ... sorry i couldn't help myself.