Patriots WR AJ Brown drawing rave reviews in camp; Drake Maye upgrade could unlock vintage season
AJ Brown has made plays this summer against elite cornerbacks, and a close observer says a vintage season is a realistic expectation with Drake Maye as the Patriots quarterback
Patriots wide receiver AJ Brown has made plays this summer against some of the league's best cornerbacks, and a close observer believes the new quarterback situation could push him toward a vintage campaign.
#Patriots WR AJ Brown has made plays this summer against Christian Gonzalez, Sauce Gardner and Quinyon Mitchell. “Certainly would not be surprised if it was a vintage AJ Brown season. ... From a passing standpoint, he’s got a good upgrade there in Drake Maye.” ~@DougKyed
Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate): #Patriots WR AJ Brown has made plays this summer against Christian Gonzalez, Sauce Gardner and Quinyon Mitchell. “Certainly would not be surprised if it was a vintage AJ Brown season. ... From a passing standpoint, he’s got a good upgrade there in Drake Maye.” ~@DougKyed
Brown's summer work stands out because it came against Christian Gonzalez, Sauce Gardner and Quinyon Mitchell, all of whom are capable of locking down receivers. The practice-field results do not automatically translate to Sundays, but they do signal that Brown is still sharp route runners and contested-catch threats even in a new system.
Drake Maye gives the Patriots a different passing dynamic than last season, and the quarterback's arm talent should create more opportunities downfield. Brown has enough physical tools to take advantage of that, so the expectation is for a higher-volume, higher-impact role from Day 1.