AJ Brown’s desire for a fresh start was fulfilled when he was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots.
Less than 24 hours later he was on the field, wearing the jersey of the team he grew up rooting for and adding new optimism about the future.
“I’m still surprised. Still trying to adjust,” Brown said after participating in his first offseason workout with New England on Tuesday. “Walking up the hill wearing the uniform, I was like, ‘Man, this is real. I’m here.’ …There are so many levels to it and I’m enjoying it.”
These levels come from a player who admitted “it was a tough night” watching the first round of the NFL Draft in 2019, when the projected first-rounder was not selected by New England, being passed over by the Patriots, who selected N’Keal Harry with the No. 32 pick just months after winning their sixth Super Bowl.
“I was in my car having already left my draft party, went back to my room and I went into the closet trying to collect myself because I was just frustrated,” Brown recalled. “(New England) was where I wanted to be. Obviously, I wanted to play with Tom (Brady). So, that didn’t happen. But everything happens for a reason.”
Brown is now clear about what was a disappointing final season in Philadelphia in which he expressed concerns about the direction of the offense.
He declined to discuss what went wrong at the end of his time with the Eagles.
“What’s done is done. And here I am,” Brown said.
He kept things light for his first day, taking plenty of observations while participating in limited 11-on-11 snaps with quarterback Drake Mays and offensive tackles.
This did not diminish the enthusiasm of the coaching staff or his new teammates.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said, “I’m not sure if I’ve ever been around anybody who looks like him.” “Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is Gronk (Rob Gronkowski). So this is a big guy. He does a lot of things well. And I’m curious to see how we can adapt to him and fit him into our system.”
Tackle Will Campbell said Brown is a game-changer.
“He’s obviously capable of doing some incredible things in this league,” Campbell said. “It obviously lifts up everyone around him.”
The Patriots have been viewed as a potential landing spot for the Browns since they released receiver Stefon Diggs in March, taking away Mays’ top option during last season’s Super Bowl run.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, now reunited with the player he coached for three seasons at Tennessee, said Brown’s signing was the culmination of negotiations with Philadelphia that initially “stalled” and finally reached the finishing line.
“Just trying to make our football team better in every way possible. Give our offense a lot of weapons to build on what we did last year,” Vrabel said.
Brown is expected to play outside, although Vrabel said he will learn all the receiver positions in the offense.
Brown, who will turn 29 on June 30, was durable during his four seasons in Philadelphia, playing all 17 regular season games in 2022 and 2023, dropping to 13 during the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl title season, and then dropping to 15 in 2025.
Asked if there were any concerns about a possible degenerative problem in Brown’s knee, Vrabel said management of any ailment would vary from player to player.
“Based on seeing his availability in the games he’s been able to play in and be there for his team, I think that gives hope for availability in the future,” Vrabel said.
Brown said there is no problem with his knee.
“No injuries. No worries,” Brown said. “Maybe in four years I’ve missed a game from a shot to the knee. I’m good. I’m ready to go.”
Gonzalez holdout?
The Patriots have moved up their mandatory, three-day minicamp, scheduled to begin on June 9. Whether Christian Gonzalez will be there remains an open question.
New England’s standout cornerback is playing under the rookie contract he signed after being drafted in the first round in 2023. He will make $2.8 million this upcoming season. The team also picked up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season, which will pay him just over $18 million.
He is now eligible for a long-term extension, which the team is working on. While this process is underway, Gonzalez is not present for voluntary offseason workouts.
“I think the contract is the business and professional side of it,” Vrabel said. “I want Christian to be ready when he comes back. And I think he’ll be here next week.”
Reporting by the Associated Press.
