Getty
Christian Gonzalez #6 of the New England Patriots tackles A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley gave the inside scoop on teammate and New England Patriots fan AJ Brown. The Internet was buzzing after the wide receiver winked during an interview with Julian Edelman earlier this week.
As the story goes, Brown was upset when the Patriots did not take him in the first round on draft night in 2019. Instead, they took wide receiver N’Keal Harry, while Brown was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. The wide receiver was also excited when a Patriots legend gave him a gift. Edelman gave Brown a signed Patriots jersey in 2025. Brown was ecstatic with the gift.
Brown certainly did not put those rumors to rest during the podcast. He looked comfortable with hosts Edelman and Rob Gronkowski.
In the meantime, his teammate set the record straight. Barkley let the public know that Brown has always been a Patriots fan from the beginning, as he told ESPN on Friday.
“He is a huge Patriots fan… He’s always been a big Patriots fan… Before Dallas, Tom Brady he was throwing him the ball… He was like a kid in a candy store. That wink is just all fun and games, but I will give the inside scoop that AJ Brown is a big Patriots fan.”
Brown had a strong year with the Eagles last season. He recorded 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He started off the season slowly. However, he rebounded and played at a high level, recording multiple 100-yard receiving games at the end of the year.
Brown is signed through the 2029 season. He most recently agreed to a three-year $96 million contract extension with the Eagles in April 2024. The Eagles made it clear that they view Brown as a long-term option at the receiver position. However, he expressed frustration multiple times last season with the way things were going on the offensive side of the ball.
Barkley’s comments do not definitively tell one way or the other whether Brown will end up a member of the Patriots. For now, he seems to be keeping things close to the vest, if he knows anything at all. Brown could be available via a trade with New England, and these things can change rapidly. However, it seems like nothing is emerging at the moment.
The Patriots could use an additional wide receiver and playmaker. Stefon Diggs served that role for the Patriots this season, recording 1,013 receiving yards and four touchdowns on the year. Patriots were able to get production in other areas of the wide receiver unit. Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, were players in particular who stepped up. Boutte had 33 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns. Hollins had 46 catches for 550 yards and two touchdowns.
Brown to New England is going to be one of the hot-button stories of the offseason. Chances are, speculation will grow once a busy free agency period begins. Either way, it is certainly fun for Patriots fans to think about, as the team looks to take that next step.
Danny Jaillet Danny Jaillet is a sportswriter with more than 15 years experience in the industry. He has been featured on Fox Sports, USA Today, and Yahoo Sports among others. He graduated from Worcester State University with a B.A. in communications and a minor in writing. More about Danny Jaillet
More Heavy on Patriots
Loading more stories