The New England Patriots made a massive statement when they acquired AJ Brown in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. Before that deal was finalized, Brown had his eye on four potential franchises.
Alongside the Patriots, the receiver showed interest in the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Ultimately, New England came out on top.
“Meanwhile, Brown’s camp gave the Eagles four AFC teams they’d be happy to land with: the Bills, Chargers, Chiefs and Patriots,” Breer wrote. “The Bills traded for D.J. Moore soon thereafter, taking themselves off the market, while the Chiefs and Chargers didn’t show much interest in a deal, leaving the Patriots, who hadn’t put a first-round pick on the table yet much less a first-rounder and another high pick.”
It's clear Brown was eyeing a contender, and it's noticeable that all of the teams he was interested in play for the AFC. As Breer noted, the Bills' trade for DJ Moore took them out of the Brown sweepstakes. But the Chargers or Chiefs would've offered an intriguing landing spot.
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The Chiefs are preparing for the return of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Travis Kelce is back, but the wide receiver room is largely unchanged. And Rashee Rice's status is murky at best at the moment.
The Chargers used a fourth-round pick on Brenen Thompson. But with their wide receiver room looking similar to 2025, Brown would undoubtedly add a spark.
But for both teams, the idea of the wide receiver in their offense is now a pipe dream. Brown will be a premier target for quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots. He eventually got what he wished for.
The New England Patriots made a massive statement when they acquired AJ Brown in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. Before that deal was finalized, Brown had his eye on four potential franchises. Alongside the Patriots, the receiver showed interest in the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.