At long last, the New England Patriots have landed a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in A.J. Brown. But did they spend too much to land him?
The Patriots acquired Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in exchange for a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Some, including NBC Sports Boston’s Pats insider Phil Perry, believe that price was a bit too steep.
“I just think it’s an overpay,” Perry said on the latest edition of the Patriots Talk Podcast. “I think it’s too much, and I’ve said that for months since we’ve started talking about this. … I can tell you when my opinion in terms of what the going rate for A.J. Brown should be changed. It was when we heard from our friend Albert Breer that he had a degenerative knee condition.”
In October, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer joined Patriots Pregame Live and spoke about Brown’s knee issues. He mentioned that the Tennessee Titans traded Brown to Philadelphia because they were concerned about the three-time Pro Bowler’s longevity.
As great a talent as Brown is, Perry believes the Patriots could regret giving up a first-round pick for a soon-to-be 29-year-old wideout with injury concerns.
“I was a huge fan of A.J. Brown for all the reasons I just mentioned: the fit, the position, the style, the play of the quarterback.” Perry said. “You’re talking about a 29-year-old receiver who has a bad knee, and that to me, when you’re talking about giving up first-round picks — I’m not saying it’s unreasonable, especially given what we’ve seen other receivers go for. It’s too much for me, given where the Patriots I think are in their overall championship aspirational arc.”
Brown notched 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns last season for Philly. The Super Bowl champion has tallied at least 1,000 yards and seven TDs in all but one of his seven NFL seasons.
Even if Brown’s best days are behind him, he should still be a legitimate No. 1 target for third-year quarterback Drake Maye. New England’s offense needed a major upgrade, especially if Stefon Diggs isn’t returning. Now, with a 1-2 punch of newcomers Brown and Romeo Doubs, the NFL MVP runner-up could be in for an even better season.
There’s obvious risk that comes with spending precious draft capital on an older receiver with knee issues. That said, if the Patriots believe they can contend for a Super Bowl again this upcoming season, this was a move they had to make.
Watch the full episode below:
