New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye didn't hold back his enthusiasm Wednesday after the team pulled off a blockbuster trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. The move, which sends a Pro Bowl talent to Foxborough, has the young signal-caller counting down the days until he can start slinging passes to his new target.
“It’s hard not to get excited,” Maye told reporters. “What a player he is. You start off the bat, what a great teammate so far. I mean, he’s eager to learn, he’s great with the guys in the locker room, and just look forward to playing with a guy of that caliber.”
Brown, who spent the past four seasons with the Eagles, posted four straight 1,000-yard campaigns and was a key contributor to Philadelphia's Super Bowl run in 2024. But for Maye, the receiver's résumé goes beyond the stat sheet.
“I know he’s been a great player in this league. Everywhere he’s gone, he’s been a guy that you see on SportsCenter the next day making plays, scoring,” Maye said. “And the best thing about him is he’s been a winner. He knows what it’s like to win.”
That winning pedigree is something the Patriots have been craving. Brown previously thrived under head coach Mike Vrabel during their time together with the Tennessee Titans, helping that franchise reach the playoffs from 2019 to 2021. Now the duo is reunited in New England, and Maye believes that chemistry will pay immediate dividends.
“Obviously, adds something to that room that… we were kinda looking for,” Maye explained. “That’s the best thing I think Stef provided for us last year, and [we have] guys that are growing in their roles. But just coming in with that stature, his ability, and his size — just the respect that you walk in there with that kind of Stef had, A.J.’s got it, too.”
Maye is particularly fired up about Brown’s ability to turn routine plays into explosive gains. The quarterback noted that any pass thrown Brown's way has big-play potential, and he's eager to feed his new weapon.
“It’s really just on me to give him a chance to touch it, because more times than not, he’s going to bring it in,” Maye said. “So, that’s exciting. And just knowing that a slant or something, a quick out — something that you can just give him the ball, he can break some tackles. He’s tough to tackle, and guys don’t want to tackle him.”
The Patriots are coming off a 14-3 season that ended in a Super Bowl appearance, and adding Brown to an already strong core makes them even more dangerous. With his combination of size, speed, and proven production, Brown gives New England a true No. 1 receiver who can dominate on the outside.
Brown’s arrival also rekindles memories of his bold claims about being the greatest Eagle ever as he departed Philadelphia. Now he’ll look to make a similar impact in New England, where the expectations are just as high.
For Maye, the addition of Brown is a clear signal that the Patriots are all-in on winning now. “It’s going to be another great year of Patriots football,” he said, and with Brown in the fold, it’s hard to argue.
