Is this too high or too low for A.J. Brown?
New England Patriots star A.J. Brown was ranked the eighth-best WR in the NFL by Bleacher Report's scouting department.
Brown is one spot ahead of Nico Collins of the Houston Texans and one spot behind George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Patriots acquired Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in June.
"Brown is a talented wide receiver who has established himself as a true WR1 in the league," Bleacher Report wrote. "He is a proven floor-raiser on offense. After being traded to the Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft, Brown passed 1,400 yards receiving in consecutive seasons in Philly. He is a physical route-runner with strong hands to pluck the ball away from defenders at the catch point.
"Brown is a tough run-after-catch threat who fights through tackles and delivers a stiff straight arm to corners in pursuit. Brown's production has declined the last two seasons, but he is expected to bounce back and return to his floor-raising ways with the New England Patriots."
Brown had 78 catches for 1,003 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns last season with the Eagles. The Pro Bowler enters this season with 8,029 receiving yards and 56 receiving touchdowns in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and Eagles.
Brown was heavily linked to the Patriots because Mike Vrabel coached him in Tennessee. The two are very close. Brown also grew up a huge New England fan because of Tom Brady.
Since entering the NFL, Brown is fourth in the league in both receiving yards (8,029) and touchdown catches (56). Brown and Cincinnati Bengals superstar Ja'Marr Chase are the NFL's only two players with at least 1,000 receiving yards and seven-plus touchdown catches in each of the past four seasons.
"Just giving more chances to him," Patriots star QB Drake Maye said about Brown. "You see with the ball in his hands, what he can do -- intermediate, short, deep. I'm not going to shy away from it, that's how I play. I'm going to keep going at it. It could be the fifth play in a row, I'm going to give him the rock."
Brown is one tough cookie. He dislocated his thumb in Monday's practice and didn't miss any time.
The Patriots open the 2026 season with a Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks.
