NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
According to reports, the deal is done between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots that will send wide receiver AJ Brown to the Pats in exchange for something yet to be known after June 1st. While this could be great for both sides, it’s Drake Maye that I’m worried about.
This is a QB no one expected to be playing in a SB in just his 2nd year in the NFL. And yet, there he was. Now, it’s been said that Maye was short of a primary target, but how true is that? Stefon Diggs did what he could, but will Brown really make that much of a difference?
The League is about spreading the ball around, and for those who don’t, well, they are on the sidelines looking in unless you’re the Seattle Seahawks.
Brown supposedly wants out of Philly, and New England is his preferred destination. But this is where it all can go wrong. Maye is young, and with that comes the need for some veteran players around him. But Brown can be a handful at times. Did Mike Vrabel and the Pats front office turn a blind eye to what transpired with Brown and the Eagles?
This is a team that Brown helped guide to 2 Super Bowls, been named All-Pro, caught enough passes to make most receivers jealous, and yet, he’s still not happy. That’s a bit concerning for a young, impressionable team. The Patriots better be careful here.
In no way are we talking about the talent that AJ Brown has put on display during his time in the NFL. But leaving a Super Bowl contender for a team that many feel made it due to a softer schedule, well, Brown may be in it for the stats. Or, as a childhood fan of the Patriots, he wants to win one for the team he rooted for growing up. If so, well, that does make sense. But if it’s based solely on football, then this could go sideways fast.
Last season, Maye passed for 4394 yards, 31 TDs, and 8 INTs with a 72.0 completion percentage. Solid numbers for any QB, but can it be duplicated? Many have already placed Maye as an elite QB, and what he’s about to learn is the same thing that other elite QBs like Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, and others have: you have to be on top of your game an entire season and win.
Drake Maye must avoid being a young QB. Bringing in Brown to be the No.1 comes with a ton of pressure. And with Brown already complaining about his lack of touches and looks, he will be joining the Pats with his eyes wide open and expecting Maye to look his way early and often. But this is the issue that Brown was having last season. He’s not getting as open as he once was. He’s dropping passes and causing issues on the sidelines and with his quotes. Defenses are keying on him, and as the Pats’ main target, he should expect more of that next season.
If Maye forces the ball, much like Jalen Hurts was early on during their run, it could lead to turnover city for the young play caller. If that happens, the microscope will grow bigger, and the same people who rooted for this pairing will be on TV or behind a laptop bashing this move.
Yes, Maye needs help. The Pats should have chosen a receiver with less of a spotty record and built from the ground up. After losing the Super Bowl, it’s understandable why they want to go all in. But Brown’s mindset may not be what they want. He will play well, but if the offense begins to stall, and Maye has a few games where he has to look the other way, which AJ Brown will they get?
Will they get the one who helped the Eagles reach two Super Bowls, or will they get the one who forced his way out of a winning situation just to increase his Hall of Fame chances with better numbers?
Maye is on course to be a great player, but this is not the type of distraction needed. If this trade goes down, it reminds me of the Tom Brady and Randy Moss pair. It was a record-setting combo, but how many Super Bowls did they win together? Moss was not as much of an issue as Brown has been.
If AJ Brown doesn’t play with his head on straight and Maye struggles, this will be a hard pill to swallow in New England. As for the Eagles, well, they get rid of a player who no longer wants to be there, and they will get draft picks and possibly a player in return.
This coming season for the Patriots will be a tough one. They will face a tougher schedule, still have the Buffalo Bills breathing down their neck, and now they have the Vrabel issue in their backyard. All this is going on without Brown yet on their roster. The expectations are high for this team, their coach, and the face of their franchise in Maye. There is no room for them to fall short. If AJ Brown comes and they falter, this could set them back. The Patriots need this to work out, Brown needs this to work out, but most of all, Drake Maye needs this to work out.
