So, A.J. Brown is finally a member of the New England Patriots. Beyond the boyhood dream of playing for his favorite team, beyond the rumors, drama and saga that finally reunited the All-Pro receiver with head coach Mike Vrabel, the franchise in general is getting an opportunity to erase a draft blunder that has been haunting the team for years.
After months of speculation, the Philadelphia Eagles trade that sent Brown to the Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick is not about the future first-round pick the team is giving away, it's more about the first-round pick they failed when they selected N’Keal Harry with the 32nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
In that same draft, Brown was selected with the 51st overall pick by the Tennessee Titans where he instantly shifted his talents from Ole Miss to become an elite boundary receiver and a player with reliable hands and elite run-after-catch (YAC) ability. The type of receiver the Patriots thought they were getting in Harry; a player who just never materialized as the big target he was drafted to be.
The Patriots finally correct a costly 2019 NFL Draft mistake
Whether it was Bill Belichick’s evaluation of wide receiver talent in that draft or his simple downplaying on the importance of the position, the Patriots missed on a draft that not only produced Brown, but a plethora of wide receiver stars, any of which would’ve changed the Patriots’ offense for years to come.
While there was just one receiver selected before Harry with Marquise Brown going to the Baltimore Ravens with the 25th overall pick, it is the players selected after Harry that haunted the Patriots for years. Deebo Samuel was selected four picks after Harry with the 36th overall pick. DK Metcalf, another player the Patriots have been rumored in trades to acquire, was selected with the 64th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks. And then there was Terry McLaurin, who was selected in the third round of that 2019 NFL Draft.
Any of those receivers could have altered the trajectory of the Patriots' offense during the transition from Tom Brady to Cam Newton and Mac Jones. A true No. 1 target like Brown may not have solved every problem, but he could have changed the outlook of multiple quarterbacks and perhaps even the franchise's post-Brady rebuild.
Perhaps, Brady finishes his career with the Patriots?
It's uncertain, but fans will have the chance to watch current quarterback Drake Maye work with a genuine No. 1 receiver in Brown, who seems motivated and ready to deliver the kind of performance that could elevate the Patriots' offense to one of the league's best. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will gain a player he can creatively use to get the ball into his hands as he did with Davante Adams when both were with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Back in 2020, Adams saw 180 targets in his first year in McDaniels’ offense. With the depth the Patriots now have in the wide receiver room, that may be overuse for Brown, but what that says is McDaniels will utilize every aspect of the brings to the table.
In all, when it comes to NFL Draft history, teams rarely get an opportunity to make up for a draft blunder. The Patriots are getting that opportunity in acquiring Brown. If the three-time All-Pro receiver helps lead New England back into Super Bowl contention, the story won't just be about a player fulfilling a childhood dream. It will also be about the Patriots finally getting from the 2019 NFL Draft the player they thought they were selecting when they chose N'Keal Harry.
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