EMERGENCY POD: AJ Brown Traded to the Patriots
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
43 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Jun 1, 2026
Published
Mon, June 1, 2026
11
Player insights
4
Players mentioned
Topics
A.J. BrownJalen HurtsDeVonta SmithDrake Maye
Player analysis
Player insights
A.J. Brown
PositiveRole0:03
A.J. Brown is expected to be the number one receiver for the New England Patriots, which is a significant upgrade for the team.
Insight pagePositiveBreakout0:03
A.J. Brown is a true number one receiver, ranking sixth in the NFL in touchdowns over the last five years, making him a big play creator for the Patriots.
Insight pagePositiveInjury0:06
A.J. Brown has missed some time in the last two seasons, playing 13 games and 15 games respectively due to knee and hamstring issues.
Insight pagePositiveUsage0:24
A.J. Brown is expected to have a significant role in the Patriots offense, potentially receiving around 160 targets as he is moved around the formation, which could enhance his effectiveness.
Insight pagePositiveInjury0:28
A.J. Brown has dealt with hamstring and knee injuries over the last two years, raising concerns about his health as he enters his 29-year-old season.
Insight pagePositiveValue0:33
A.J. Brown could lead the NFL in receiving yards if he becomes the centerpiece of the Patriots offense, especially given his talent and the potential for a high target share.
Insight pagePositiveProjection0:34
If healthy, A.J. Brown is expected to have a huge year, potentially returning to elite status in fantasy football.
Insight pageDeVonta Smith
PositiveRole0:07
With A.J. Brown's departure, Devontae Smith is expected to take on a larger role, but there are concerns about whether he can be a true number one receiver.
Insight pageDrake Maye
PositiveBreakout0:22
The addition of A.J. Brown could unlock Drake May's potential, possibly leading to one of the best seasons ever for a young quarterback if he can create explosive plays.
Insight pageJalen Hurts
NegativeRole0:12
Jalen Hurts is facing challenges with his passing game, particularly in targeting the middle of the field, which could hinder the Eagles' offense after A.J. Brown's departure.
Insight pageNegativeRole0:36
There are concerns about Jalen Hurts' performance, with the speaker suggesting he may be more of a middle-of-the-road starting quarterback rather than a pro bowler, especially given his struggles with throwing on the run and over the middle.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This episode is brought to you by Brooks. Running connects us to a rush of energy that flows through our world.
0:06The cheers of friends that unlock a new gear within us, the intersection of interest that inspires a run crew, the support
0:12that gets you over the finish line. Connection is why we move forward and what inspires us to keep going.
0:18Let's run there. Learn more at brooksrunning.com. For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters.
0:23Tremphaya offers self-injection or intravenous infusion from the start.
0:25Tremphaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks.
0:33If your doctor decides that you can self-inject Tremphaya, proper training is required.
0:37Tremphaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely
0:43active ulcerative colitis, serious allergic reactions, increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them and liver problems may occur.
0:49Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms or need a vaccine.
0:55Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Tremphaya today.
0:57Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit Tremphaya radio.com.
1:00Welcome to the The Ringer Fantasy Football Show. My name is Danny Heifetz and I'm joined by Danny Kelly and Craig Horlbeck.
1:06And if you're listening to this, then A.J. Brown just got traded.
1:09Probably to the Patriots. We're not 100% sure because we're recording this on May 26, 2026.
1:14And we were really afraid A.J. Brown was going to get traded while we were on vacation.
1:19But we also kind of knew about this for months and months and months.
1:23So we kind of figured we would just record our reaction to the trade and talk about it ahead of time and just post it.
1:30And hopefully we got most of it right. This is a true time capsule podcasting for the future experiment that we've never really done, but I'm into it.
1:37We can we should just do more of these.
1:40Can we do like week three? The Steelers just lost to the Bengals.
1:44DK, what are your thoughts? Yeah, this one is this one's interesting, though, because it's basically the worst kept secret that the deal is all but done.
1:51It was a handshake deal or is a handshake deal already.
1:54And they're just waiting for June 1st to come by so they can do this.
1:58And it is a post June 1st trade, which I guess affects contracts and all kinds of different things.
2:04Won't be boring about it, but basically June 1st, it really just means the second half of the year, which for accounting
2:10means you can split the cost on one season, cut it in half and split it over two seasons, which makes it easier.
2:16And the Eagles structure their contracts to pay their bonuses to players by the beginning of week one instead of March, which means basically.
2:23Other teams, for whatever reason, don't always put the paperwork in to make it easier to trade players later in the year.
2:29So the Eagles kind of structured A.J. Brown's trade deal to be tradable later in the year.
2:34So it's going to save them. I don't know the exact number, maybe 30, maybe more than 30 million dollars of dead
2:40cap for this trade to be then. I it's Adam Schefter has implied for months that the deal is going to be A.J.
2:47Brown to the New England Patriots for maybe a 2028 first round pick.
2:50Maybe I don't know what else happened. Maybe Kish on booties in it.
2:54You guys can look it up because it hasn't happened yet, but it seems like the bones of it is a 2028 first for A.J.
3:01Brown. Maybe it ends up being more. Maybe it ends up being less, but we'll see what happens.
3:06So with that said, though, we did want to talk about the football of it because it does seem like A.J.
3:12Brown will be the number one receiver for the New England Patriots this year.
3:16And it seems like the Eagles are going to go forward to Vontae Smith and Makai Lemon, their first round pick.
3:22So I want to just start with just A.J.
3:24Brown and Drake May on the Patriots for a team that just got waxed in the Super Bowl.
3:29And DK, you're the Seahawks fan. Your team just destroyed New England.
3:32Then for the last game of last season was Seahawks destroying New England.
3:36Now week one, the season starts with the Seahawks playing New England.
3:39How differently do you look as your defense just destroyed them?
3:43How differently do you look at the Patriots with A.J.
3:45Brown and Romeo Dobbs? So the sign in for agents.
3:48I mean, I feel like that. Well, the A.J.
3:51Brown thing is a big upgrade because he is a true number one receiver.
3:55If you look back over the last five years, he is, I think, like sixth in the NFL and touchdowns.
4:00He's a touchdown score, big play creator and a guy that can get open and be the go to guy for a good quarterback.
4:07And if you look at the rest of the receivers on the Patriots, it's like a bunch of role players.
4:13And that's kind of what they had last year.
4:15You could I guess you could say that Stefan Diggs was more than that.
4:19But at this point in his career, I think he's more of a role player.
4:23You have K. Sean Booty, who's kind of like the designated deep threat.
4:27You have Mac Hollins, who's the designated team mascot slash when you need a first down.
4:31He's the guy that you go to. I think is another guy who they brought in the offseason.
4:36He's a role player. But this is a move that makes every every other receiver on this team just kind of fit
4:42into their spot a little bit better. They're not trying to be something that they're not, if that makes sense.
4:48And I think the primary thing here is A.J.
4:51Brown. Excellent deep threat. And Drake May is one of the best deep ball throwers in the NFL.
4:56So it's a good it's a good match schematically, I think, and could end up being the type of move you see in the past.
5:03Like you've seen in the past, like development with Josh Allen when Stefan Diggs came to Buffalo was like a huge difference for him.
5:09There's there's many examples of this over the years.
5:12I think that's what they're hoping this can be.
5:14I mean, so I think the Stefan Diggs one example of the Stefan Diggs one of Buffalo.
5:19That is exactly what it reminded me of, too.
5:22I think that A.J. Brown, so he's gonna be twenty nine at the end of June.
5:26Obviously, there's a lot of narrative things going on where he actually grew up a Patriots fan.
5:31A.J. Brown did, which front runner. Who knows? A.J.
5:33Brown obviously could have been taken by the Patriots in the draft.
5:37They took Nikhil Harry. And then obviously Mike Vrabel had A.J.
5:40Brown in Tennessee and he was awesome. And then Mike Vrabel was pissed that they traded him away.
5:45And then A.J. Brown had like almost 200 yards versus the Titans.
5:48And then the Titans fired the GM who traded him away.
5:51So it's like Mike Vrabel gets A.J. Brown back.
5:54I don't know, Craig, what do you make? I feel like you've gone back and forth on this all season.
5:59What do you make of A.J. Brown in New England?
6:02Now that I've been separated a little bit from having A.J.
6:05Brown on my fantasy team, and how horrible of an experience that was.
6:09Yeah. I do think this would be just a much better move for New England than for Philly.
6:14Like I feel like A.J. Brown going to the Patriots makes me, and Romeo Dobbs, who I like a lot, who I
6:20think is like a really rock solid kind of like number two, number three option.
6:24It just fills such a huge hole and it rounds out the Patriots offensive skill group in a way that feels like
6:31this is now a legitimate team that I feel like, if we want to say last year was like fluky that they got to the Super Bowl.
6:38Now I'm like, this is now a roster that I think can win a Super Bowl.
6:43And then you flip it over to Philly and I'm like, for a team that was struggling to throw the ball as
6:49much as they were, and is now kind of struggling to run the ball, which is what also kind of hurt the passing game.
6:55You lose A.J. Brown, who is a legitimate, like you could make a case he's a top five receiver in the NFL.
7:02And now it's like you have Devontae Smith, you have a rookie Mekhi Lemon.
7:06And where else are we here? And we're hoping that this Petulo, Kevin Petulo, the former OC, who's now gone.
7:11You're really banking on that being the reason why all this went to shit.
7:15And that Sean Mannion, who's coming from Green Bay, will come in and everything will kind of go back closer to 2024 than to 2025.
7:22But to me, if this is a late first or 2028 or whatever it's going to end up being, this is a
7:28great trade for the Patriots, in my opinion. Do you feel that way, DK?
7:32Let's just call it a 2028 first rounder. And if it's not, then I'm sorry.
7:36Right. We should say A.J. Brown's currently 28. He'll be 29 this summer.
7:40So he'll be 29 for this season. He, in his last two seasons, has played 13 games and 15 games respectively.
7:46So he has missed a little bit of time.
7:48He's kind of had like knee hamstring stuff always.
7:51But led the league in really upset tweets. Led the league in really upset tweets.
7:55He's always got a book with him. He's a bookworm on the bench.
7:59But like when even last year, like there was still a stretch when A.J.
8:03Brown's on and healthy. Like he's still like the fifth best receiver in the NFL.
8:07Yeah, I think, Hyphens, you posed it to me this way that they traded for him for a first round pick.
8:13And then after several years of high end production, they traded him for a first round pick.
8:17And if you look at it from the business point of view, from that point of view, it's pretty good value.
8:23Getting a first round pick for a guy after several years of production.
8:27But that being said, I agree with Craig that this I feel like makes their offense clearly worse.
8:32Like definitely thinner at receiver. And maybe they just see this as we're getting a malcontent out of here.
8:37The vibes are going to be better. There's not going to be as many questions about the quarterback.
8:42Yeah, because I feel like they are protecting Jalen Hurts a little bit here because he's they're clearly are not on the same page.
8:49Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown, like whatever, you know, whatever A.J.
8:52Brown wants. He wants to be more wants more production.
8:55He wants more targets, whatever. They're clearly not on the same page.
8:58They don't seem to get along. Maybe they see this as like addition by subtraction because of that.
9:03But but on paper, as Craig pointed out, I mean, you're left with Devontae Smith, who is arguably a great receiver.
9:09But I don't know if like a true number one prototype in terms of his style.
9:14He might be better as a sort of complimentary number two.
9:17And then Makai Lemon, who is in college, he was more of like a slot receiver.
9:21You have Dontavian Wicks, who ended up going away.
9:24He left Green Bay after flashing at times, but being really frustrating with drops and things like that.
9:29Yeah, he got terrible. He's got he's got Jalen.
9:31He's got a Aguilar hands. Right. The time of weeks.
9:34I want to ask you about the Devontae Smith thing in a world where Jackson Smith and Jigba just won offensive player of the year.
9:41Do you still feel like that? He's not a prototypical number one thing matters.
9:45Like how different is the one really from Jason?
9:48Yeah, maybe not. Yeah, I mean, and that is that's like kind of the eternal question is like, what is it number one?
9:54Because you have a lot of receivers in the NFL that have put up elite production that aren't like prototypical number one type.
10:01Well, and is it like could you argue that the offense it'll just be like it will be easier to operate when
10:07you don't have a guy who's pissed that he doesn't have the ball all the time.
10:11And it's like if now you're like you're trying to rebuild you're trying to replace AJ Brown in the aggregate with Hollywood
10:17Brown, Dontavian Wicks, Makai Lemon, Devontae Smith. Is there a world in which like great now we can actually focus on what
10:23we want to focus on, which is Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.
10:27And whoever catches the ball when we need to throw is not going to post Instagram stories about it after the game.
10:33And, you know, it's funny. It's I agree that from the business standpoint from the Eagles to just like if you zoom
10:39out, it's like they have made a profit. Like they literally are.
10:43They gave up a first for him. The Titans got freaking trail on Burks with the pick or whatever.
10:48And the tight again, the Eagles got the best prime of AJ Brown's career made two Super Bowls one one.
10:53Frankly, the one the year they lost AJ Brown was like maybe the best receiver in the NFL for a stretch.
10:59They had the only stretch of 125 yards, six games in a row receivers ever had.
11:04And they're getting basically what they paid for him later.
11:07Like, honestly, I maybe by the time this trade goes through, if AJ Brown's dealt for first, that's a very short list
11:13of players ever who have been acquired for first run pick and then dealt again for first run pick.
11:18It's like Brandon Cooks. I struggled to find another example in the last like 30 or 40 years.
11:23Maybe it's happened. If you count the draft, it's happened like Ricky Williams, but veteran players dealt for first, traded again for
11:29first, like getting back what you paid almost almost unheard of.
11:32So it makes sense for the Eagles, but it's also it's worth, I think, going back and looking like AJ Brown was
11:39Jalen hurts is still, I believe Jalen hurts his child's godfather.
11:42Like they were very close and the D the unraveling of this relationship has been part and parcel with the unraveling of the Eagles.
11:48And it has happened slowly and for a lot of reasons, including obviously, honestly, Saquon got all the ball, all the touchdowns
11:54in the credit when the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
11:57And AJ Brown had this like Instagram a few days after they won the Super Bowl.
12:02And he literally was like after a few, I want to read it because to Keith Keith's point, what does he want?
12:08He actually said it. Also his Instagram handle 1K always open.
12:11It's just, I kind of love a receiver Instagram handle.
12:14Not as good as can't guard Mike, but AJ Brown is Instagram caption like three days after they won the Super Bowl.
12:20I tried to feel how everyone made it seem to be a champion.
12:24Unfortunately, it was short lived two days to be exact.
12:26Lol. I've never been a champion at the highest level before.
12:29I thought my hard work would be justified by winning it all.
12:33It wasn't my thrill for this game comes when I dominate.
12:36It's the hunt capital H that does it for me.
12:39It's when the DB drops his head and surrenders because he can't fuck with me.
12:43The intense battles, early mornings, late nights. I love putting smiles in people's faces.
12:47Don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't what I thought it would be to win a Super Bowl.
12:52I like that's common. That's common though. I think it happens to a lot of players.
12:57Aaron Rodgers said that, but the point is, I think so.
13:00I think there's like something larger there about like success in general in life beyond.
13:04Yes. Yeah. The way you feel on the mountaintop is it's kind of, there's nothing up there.
13:09Like it's just, there's nothing on the top of the mountain.
13:12You got to go down now. Yeah. Fuck. But the AJ Brown thing, I don't know.
13:16I see on one hand, I think it makes sense for Harry Rosen if you get it first to get it for him.
13:23It is certainly this coming season to huge bet on Jalen Hurts, who is, he is this what is 11th offensive coordinator
13:29at 11 years going back to college or 10th or whatever.
13:32It's like another change. And it's the Russell Wilson thing.
13:35Can Jalen Hurts play in a new offense? That's allegedly going to be more, more play action, probably more drop, more middle of the field.
13:42And there was a great stat I saw from Ted Wynn at the athletic who since 2020, which is when Hurts came
13:48in, Jalen Hurts ranks 85 out of 88, 85 out of 88 eligible quarterbacks in the percentage of their throws between the numbers under 15 air yards.
13:55So the dead center of the field, Jalen Hurts is 85th at 88 and how often he taught frequently targets it.
14:01That's where Devonta Smith would seemingly be winning. That's where seemingly Makai Lemon would be winning.
14:06And it's like Jalen Hurts has been winning a lot on deep shots to the outside of the boundary, which is what
14:12you get AJ Brown for a lot of screens, a lot of stuff to Dallas Goddard, a lot of screen, quick stuff to Devonta Smith.
14:19And so it's like, okay, how does Hurts fit with Devonta and Makai Lemon?
14:23And the Eagles fans will be like, he can do it.
14:26Like let him get one season with the same coordinators, but we'll see because it does.
14:30But you know, that article that came out, like a lot of things do seem to be dealing Hurts over and over again.
14:37Uh, I, I don't, I'm very fascinated to see what the Eagles are going to be with Devonta Smith and Makai Lemon.
14:43And like if, if how Hurts adapts to this, but overall, though, I look at AJ Brown is he was not locked in.
14:49He was kind of unlocked and I hate that he was bitching.
14:53And then like, would Lala gag on routes when, if he kept running, would've got a touchdown.
14:58But I also think that he's probably kind of right about what he was upset about.
15:02He's probably right. Yeah. It's two things can be true at once, right?
15:06I agree. It's one of those things where I think are the Eagles better with AJ Brown?
15:10Yes. Do I think the Eagles needed to get rid of AJ Brown?
15:14Yes. And sometimes you got it. And honestly, getting a first round pick for it is not bad.
15:19And it's just one of those things that had to happen.
15:22It, I completely agree. It reminds me of course, you brought up the JSN thing and that's a good point.
15:28I mean, honestly, like I don't, I don't think anyone really looked at JSN as a prototypical number one.
15:33He went out and had this amazing season for the Seahawks.
15:36And part of that is because they got rid of DK Metcalf, who was for all his talents, kind of a drain sometimes emotionally.
15:43He would always have these untimely penalties, some, some like problems with drops.
15:47It's just basically not a very reliable player. And I think he was hurting the overall cohesiveness and maybe just the vibes of the team.
15:54And when I, when he left, I was distraught for the Seahawks.
15:57I was like, man, that he's just such an important part of their offense.
16:01Um, and I think I overestimated that because obviously what we saw this year was, um, pretty great.
16:06And I still think DK Metcalf is a good player, but I think sometimes the chemistry of a team and the chemistry
16:12of the way the offense fits together and, uh, and the, and honestly, just the OC and not having to worry about
16:18this guide bitching about getting the ball constantly, maybe can free him up to make some different play calls, things like that.
16:24Um, so yeah, this is one of those things where it's more of a chemistry.
16:29I think that's a history point of view. And I think, I mean, I mean that more from just like players getting along.
16:35I think it's more like how does the pieces fit together?
16:38How did the different pieces of the offense fit together in the way that we're designing our offense and, and employing it?
16:44Um, there's a chance that it, it's a chance that it works better.
16:48That's the right comp though. DK Metcalf leaving Seattle being upset.
16:51And then JSN literally breaking the Seahawks receiving record by like week 12 is like the right comp because frankly, AJ Brown's
16:57a better version of DK Metcalf and in college, at least Devante Smith was a better version of Jackson Smith and Jigba.
17:03And I think that that actually is not. And it's also, it's the Eagles are probably moving toward closer as much as close.
17:10They can get to something more like what this, not exactly what the Seahawks are doing on offense, but I think that that is more what they want.
17:18Something a little closer to that. It might be what they want to do.
17:21I agree with everything. You, the other thing I wanted to expand on just a tiny bit is that, you know, uh,
17:28like Ted wins stat that he, the frequency in which he passes to the middle of the field is like the low
17:34or one of the lowest in the NFL since he, cause he's six foot one.
17:38And when a quarterback six feet or under, it's all we talk about, but it hurts.
17:42It's not that tall. And I think part of it is like a part of this, uh, trade and the overall revamp,
17:49you're bringing in Sean Mannion and there, they brought in McKay 11.
17:52They brought in Eli Stowers, who is effectively a receiver.
17:55He's not really a tight end. He is, uh, when he's on the field, he's more of just like a receiving type of player.
18:02And Stowers is the tight end at a Vanderbilt who had a higher vert jump at 45 and a half inch vert
18:08higher than like Vince Carter's was at the NBA combine.
18:10They're doing a lot. The Eagles brought it out.
18:13I mean, there's a lot of, they're like, uh, Hollywood, Wicks, Eli Stowers, Makai lemon, like hopefully one of these works.
18:19I think they are. It's more scientific than throwing shit at a wall and hoping it sticks.
18:24But I think they are effectively trying to get more value and more production out of the middle of the field.
18:30They're trying to help hurts out there because it's, it's not like, you mean, it's not like no one notices this.
18:35This is like the main talking point with Jalen hurts right now.
18:39Um, and so I think they're trying to improve on that, which I think is the only thing they can really do.
18:45Obviously Jalen hurts at the end of the day has to start being more comfortable and throwing out of a higher frequency down the middle of the field.
18:53Um, if they really want to unlock the offense and be the best that they can be, um, because that is a
18:59huge chunk of the field that you're just not employing very much.
19:02And it makes it things easier for the offense or for the defense.
19:06If you can't effectively and consistently attack that area of the field.
19:09And the, again, losing the age of brand element, I, I, it's, I think, I think we're on the same page, honestly, about the Eagles thing.
19:17And we'll see. And like, again, it's, it's always, I, we've all been pretty critical of Jalen hurts, but it's always dangerous
19:23because the reality is Jalen hurts is going back to college.
19:26Always been incredibly crazy stacked offenses, a talent. And he's always one, like he's, he's a winner.
19:31He's always improved most of most every year that he's been, you know, going back to college.
19:35This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn ads.
19:38Ever invest in something that seemed incredible at first, but did not live up to the hype.
19:43Marketers know that feeling they optimize for the numbers that look great impressions, reach and react.
19:47But when they don't show revenue, well, that's a not so great conversation with the CFO.
19:52LinkedIn has a word for that bull spend. Instead, why not invest in what looks good to your CFO?
19:57LinkedIn ads generates the highest row as of all major ad networks, reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads.
20:02You can target by company industry, job title, and more.
20:05So cut the bull spend advertise on LinkedIn, the network that works for you.
20:09Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a $250 credit for the next one.
20:14Just go to LinkedIn.com slash ringer fantasy football. That is LinkedIn.com slash ringer fantasy football terms and conditions apply.
20:19Recent plateaus. But I want to talk about AJ Brown on the Patriots.
20:23So, well, actually, the last thing I'm going to leave in the Eagles, which is like the bridge to me to the
20:29Patriots is the other last reason to get out of the AJ Brown business.
20:33I mean, we're talking AJ Brown had a pretty serious knee injury like six or seven years ago.
20:38You know, he had I think he was flagged for it.
20:41He had issues in college, but like his knee was an issue six or seven years ago.
20:46And then he had this contract stuff where it's like, I mean, this is a third contract.
20:51A lot of receivers don't necessarily get third contracts.
20:53So like it could be the classic example, ironically, of what well check Patriots always did, which is getting out a year earlier than a year too late.
21:01I know that like bitching wise, that was a year too late.
21:04Like AJ Brown vibes wise, but talent wise, he's still unbelievable.
21:07And I think that there's a world where he maybe goes off cliff, but I have to say looking at it, New
21:14England, I think I, I, I ranked AJ Brown when we first did our blind rankings and we tried not to look
21:20at other people's rankings to affect us and try to get, I ranked AJ Brown, assuming he'd be a Patriot, like top 15 pick.
21:26And I was shocked to see him where he was.
21:29And I'm like, his problem was he was really angry.
21:32It's a workplace issue. Like he was not locked in.
21:35I think AJ Brown should be third or fourth, I guess the top five to lead the NFL receiving yards.
21:40It should be like Puka and Jamar chase and JSN and AJ Brown should be like right there.
21:45And just talent wise in terms of real life receivers.
21:48I think AJ Brown is just as good as some of those guys.
21:52He's probably a notch below. Like Jamar chase is like a perfect receiver, but I think his, he fits perfectly in the
21:58New England offense for everything they want to do.
22:01And I think it's a smart trade. And DK reminds you a lot of the dig straight to your point for a lot of reasons.
22:08Yeah. I'm wondering if there's a world, I mean, obviously there is a world in which we are really underrating how big
22:14of an impact this could make for Drake may, you know, cause I think coming off of this last season, I think
22:20there is a little bit of a feeling. There's a chance that the Patriots could regress pretty significantly based on some of
22:26the stuff that's happened this off season. Um, a lot of distractions.
22:29Um, and there's a chance here that AJ Brown coming in could really unlock Drake may to a point that we haven't even seen it.
22:36He turns into, he has puts together like one of the best seasons we've seen from a young quarterback ever.
22:42You know what I mean? That is in the, that is in the range of outcomes here.
22:47If AJ Brown can, you know, do what he's done in the past, which is create explosive plays, create touchdowns, be a,
22:53you know, clutch playmaker when the team really needs it, things like that.
22:57Uh, so I think there is a chance this is like potentially massive for Drake may.
23:01Um, so that's kind of another thing that I'm really excited to see.
23:05You know, initially I kind of thought the history of trading for star wide receivers in their late prime.
23:10Wasn't great. If you look at the last like 10 or so years, it's, it's not quite as bad as I thought.
23:16I, I, I basically took guys between like 28 and 32 who were stars who got traded.
23:21And I would say the three main comps I looked at is, I mean, Devonta Adams going to the Raiders when he
23:27was 30 and I mean, averaged a hundred catches, 1300 yards and 11 touchdowns with this time in Vegas, even though Vegas was not good.
23:34Uh, Tyreek to the dolphins. Tyreek had his two best seasons as a dolphin of his career.
23:39And then Deandre Hopkins going to Arizona. He was 28 years old when that happened.
23:43And his first season in Arizona, he had 1400 yards and 115 catches.
23:47And so these were all guys who were like in that 28 to 30 range.
23:51Do they still have it? I mean, Devonta Adams is still doing it and Tyreek got super hurt, but you know, there are other examples.
23:58There's like Calvin Ridley and digs went to the Texans when he was 30 and Amari Cooper going to Cleveland and he was okay.
24:05But, um, I'm more of a believer looking through this, that AJ Brown, who I think is still firmly in his prime.
24:11He's just at the tail end of it. Um, that this could work out.
24:15I, I think you're right. And I really do want to lock it on DK's thing.
24:19I think the comparison, not age wise, but why the Patriots are doing this has a lot common with Stefan digs to
24:25the bills and it's a little different, but it has a lot in common where it's like, the bills got digs for Josh Allen.
24:32Cause Josh Allen had not yet really become a great quarterback.
24:35He, we were kind of still making fun of him and they, uh, bills felt that Josh Allen was actually a really good deep thrower.
24:42Even if the, the statistical accuracy wasn't there because they felt that the receipt base, a lot of the deep ball stats
24:48have to do with the receiver and how much can you track the ball?
24:52And they felt like the bills deep ball receivers were not really tracking well.
24:56And they went and got Stefan digs who was basically like the best deep ball tracker.
25:01And then Josh Allen, he helped Josh Allen become Josh Allen and digs really unlocked him.
25:05And they obviously had a ton of success and AJ Brown's older.
25:08But if you think about what Drake may just did, it's not quite the same where Drake may obviously almost made a super bowl.
25:15He almost won a VP. Like he was better than Josh Allen was before they got digs.
25:20But what Drake may just did. And just to remind people, he like Drake may, aside from all the rushing stuff, Drake
25:26may had this thing that you like never see anymore, which is his completion percentage last year.
25:31He led the NFL completion percentage at 72%, but Drake may also push the ball further down field than basically like everybody in the NFL.
25:38Almost. I think he was second and average depth of target among qualifying passers.
25:42So it's like all the completion percentage guys are like dink and dunk drew breeze throwing up behind the line of scrimmage or low completion percentage.
25:49You're throwing it like Jameis Drake may did both.
25:52I think what the, and so if you look at Bill Barnwell had this great stat for his MVP column that was,
25:58I think this was like 16 weeks through the season, not the whole year.
26:02That was like, if you look at receivers over expectation, the top two was like JSN and Puka.
26:07And then the next three of the next four guys were like Patriots receivers.
26:11It was like digs and Kishon booty and a Mac Collins.
26:14And it's like, that's a Drake may stat. It's the same way Jaden Daniels went like 20 of 23 and fourth down.
26:20Drake may just hit all his deep passes. And I think that this is the Patriots saying you can't do that again.
26:26Like you cannot just expect Drake may to be the single best completion percentage deep passer ever again.
26:31And we need to go get a receiver who makes Drake may not need to be perfect.
26:36You expand the margin for error. I mean, and so that's what they got A.J.
26:40Brown for. So Drake may doesn't have to be fucking perfect at every deep pass again.
26:44It's not dissimilar to Jaden Daniels' first year in Washington.
26:47And they kind of didn't do a whole lot for him the next year.
26:51And things took a little bit of a turn.
26:54It's funny. I was going to say, we should also mention that A.J.
26:57Brown was with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. And now he is back with him if this trade does go through.
27:03And I was going to say that, you know, Philly, it just feels like emotions are riding high at all times.
27:09Sirianni, you got big Dom, Hurts. There's just a lot going on to fans.
27:13And I was going to say that, you know, A.J.
27:16Brown reuniting with Vrabel and the Patriots, that it was like a much more like stable, rock solid environment.
27:21Obviously, things are a little bit topsy-turvy with New England's offseason.
27:24But I do think that there is something to like what Mike Vrabel brings to a locker room at A.J.
27:30Brown in that environment. And Drake May, to that matter, who also just seems like a fucking rock solid, dedicated guy who's not going to cause drama.
27:37And also just I completely agree. And the Patriots, they just need a goddamn receiver can beat man coverage.
27:42And like that's what A.J. Brown was at his best and maybe the best guy in the NFL.
27:47And like I remember Steve Marius was comparing him to like LeBron, where he's like, look, A.J.
27:52Brown, like he's the best player in the NFL.
27:55It was the double move thing because he was the A.J.
27:58Brown is so good on slants. He's so powerful.
28:00He's so hard to guard that but the moment you try to cheat and get a play up to try to stop
28:07him from catching the ball over the middle, A.J.
28:09Brown double move became the best player in football was the A.J.
28:12Brown, like the double move fake, like a slant go.
28:15And he's like unstoppable. And like that's where I think it's going to unlock.
28:19And that's why I also think Josh McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator is going to get you around like 160 targets because
28:25the other part of this, literally of every qualifying receiver, like like over 120, A.J.
28:29Brown was in the slot less than anybody. He was literally last if you sort the column.
28:34A.J. Brown's dead last. I think Josh McDaniels is going to move A.J.
28:38Brown all over. That's where Romeo Dubs helps a lot because he can play X receiver and he can make A.J.
28:44Brown can be moved around. But also Dubs can also go to Z and A.J.
28:48Brown can play over the X. Like I just think they work together a lot.
28:52And it's like they cut Patriots kind of shoestring and bubble gum their goddamn receiver core and almost won a fucking Super Bowl doing it.
28:59But like all their receivers are role players. And now they have like pro pro above average receivers.
29:04This episode is brought to you by Spectrum Business.
29:07Fast, reliable internet means everything for your business and even this podcast.
29:10That's why I trust Spectrum Business to keep companies of all sizes connected with internet, advanced Wi-Fi, phone, TV, mobile services, plus 24-7 US based support.
29:17Millions of business owners already trust Spectrum Business. So visit spectrum.com slash business to learn more.
29:22Restrictions apply. Services not available in all areas. Yeah, I think you know we can't I we comped the DK Metcalf thing and DK Metcalf and AJ Brown.
29:30There's a reason they're comped to each other because they both went to Ole Miss.
29:34They both are incredibly ripped at the same time.
29:36Yeah, they were drafted a couple like I don't know very many far picks apart.
29:41It was both in the second round. I believe in 2019.
29:44And so they've kind of had, you know careers that people follow closely and I think they have a very similar skill set.
29:50I'm going back to when the Seahawks first got DK Metcalf and part of the reason DK Metcalf was so dominant early
29:56on in the season is Russell Wilson could throw a moon ball like no one else.
30:01And I feel like Drake may can throw a moon ball like no one else.
30:05I was just watching a replay the other day.
30:07Remarkable drops it in a bucket down the field.
30:10Yeah, and there is a big difference and no disrespect to Kayshawn Booty, but like there's a huge difference between Kayshawn Booty.
30:16No disrespect. I mean, come on. Most of the time you say no disrespect.
30:20It's it's pretty disrespectful. I mean, he did a really good job.
30:23I think relative to expectations at being a deep ball threat for every every game.
30:28He was like one catch 58 yards, but he's not AJ Brown is my point.
30:32And I just think of the let Russ cook era of Seattle football was like, God, we got DK Metcalf.
30:37We got Tyler Lockett. We're just chucking it deep and it's so effective and so explosive.
30:42And a couple of Russell Wilson's best years as a passer were early DK Metcalf years.
30:46So so me again, this is like a fantasy discussion more than anything, but it's like if AJ Brown can unlock that
30:53deep ball even more from Drake May that opens up everything else in the offense opens up their run game a little bit.
30:59And so I don't know. I think of course, there's the variable here, which is AJ Brown is on the decline and
31:05maybe he's just not as good as he used to be.
31:08But I think this is the right the right move to pair a guy.
31:12I think that can really accentuate Drake May's best talents as a passer is that deep ball accuracy, the willingness and ability
31:18to push the ball aggressively changes the way defenses have to play you.
31:22So so it's really exciting. Yeah, he said hamstring and knee injuries last two years that he's kind of bowled with.
31:28And so like, is there a world in which he's 29 this year and you can see he's slowing down and he's dinged up a lot?
31:35You sure? But this is a bet of like we give up a late first round pick.
31:40Also, is it going to be 2028? Because if it is kind of a nice little move by New England and not have to give up 2027.
31:47I think that I think every team is trying to hold on to their 27 first.
31:52No one wants to do it. And I think I'm surprised nobody like we're talking about teams that need wide receivers and
31:58how the bills traded for Stefan Diggs bills could have used AJ Brown.
32:02Like, I'm surprised there is no team that would offer a 2027 late first for AJ Brown.
32:06Well, the difference is when the bills got digs.
32:09He was 20. My God, how old is Diggs?
32:11Like 24 probably was 25. Yeah, exactly. He was like entering his prime.
32:15But these teams that are like, win now, like the bills are like, win now we can win the Super Bowl any
32:21year if we can just get to two good years of AJ Brown.
32:25Maybe that's worth the 29th pick. Well, they kind of did it half heartedly when they would trade it for DJ more.
32:31Yeah. Yeah. I think it's the I think the short answer is most trades like that.
32:36You need someone who feels really strongly about it.
32:38Exit knows and can vouch for the person. It's not that different than a smaller deal, but the Seahawks traded a fourth
32:44round pick for Rashid Shahid from the Saints. And that's because Kubiak was the offensive coordinator for the Saints.
32:50And it's not just does this person fit the offense?
32:52It's does this person fit our culture? It's like anything else.
32:55I've worked with that guy. I like him. He would fit here.
32:59And like you actually, if you're going to do the trade, you need that element.
33:03And you can have Rabel saying, I know him.
33:06It'll be Rabel's like, I want this fucking guy.
33:08Like I want him. And also, he's probably, you know, rose colored glasses and amber from like the Titans.
33:13But I'm not going to go to that. But I do think that that is usually like a factor.
33:19It's like you need someone. It's you know, everything comes even everything comes out where it's like, oh, the receivers coach has
33:25known his father for like 30 years. You know, there's always something like that that like has to push a trade over the edge.
33:32But I don't know. I'm looking at Fandala for offensive player of the year for AJ Brown is 40 to one.
33:37And I'm like, I'm probably going to bet that the moment we get off this episode, because I'm like, I'm looking at
33:44it and like Jackson Smith, the Jigba who I'll find the audio for you guys.
33:48I made fun of his odds last year being the same as Joe Burrows and then JSM won the MVP, the offensive player of the year.
33:55But like the, I don't know. I just, I don't think it's very far fetched to think AJ Brown could lead the
34:01NFL in yards if he's the centerpiece of a Patriots offense.
34:04Yeah, I agree. If he's healthy, it could be a huge year.
34:08It is. I do think the Eagles, it's like when you just look at this in black and white.
34:13I think the Patriots are closer to winning a Super Bowl now.
34:16And I think the Eagles will are further away.
34:19Yeah, he's probably right. Okay, so it's big bet on Jalen hurts.
34:22And then last thing before we leave fantasy gut check, this hasn't even happened yet.
34:26So it's not even an immediate reaction. It's a pre-mediate reaction.
34:30DK, would you like, who do you think scores more fantasy points in 2026 age AJ Brown and the Patriots are like CD land?
34:36Ooh, probably would still take CD first. What about Justin Jefferson with Kyler and the Vikings?
34:41Hmm. Then we're getting close. We're getting close. Probably.
34:43I really like this pairing. Hmm. Justin Jefferson still by a hair though.
34:47I think you're in the right ballpark though. Cause this is like where we're talking about AJ Brown return to like the elite status.
34:54Like Craig, are you really going to take Ashton Gentry over AJ Brown in like the top of the second round?
34:59It's right there. Yeah. I think it's a high.
35:02I think it's right there. I think it's early second.
35:05Yeah. Well, I have no idea where other people were ranking.
35:08Maybe this is an obvious take, but I, I think he's going to be incredible.
35:12Um, okay. Anything else on this Eagles, AJ Brown era Patriots off a Superbowl loss.
35:16How, how quickly will Eagles fans freak out? If how many weeks in will it take for Eagles to be like, why
35:22the fuck did we trade AJ Brown? Jalen hurts?
35:25Isn't good. It wasn't AJ Brown's fault. Well, 90 minutes.
35:28If AJ Brown is a great game against the Seahawks defense in week one, like 90 minutes.
35:32Yeah. Uh, which I kind of feel like he won't, but hurts.
35:36I feel, I don't know what he, I feel like Eagles fans would need a month of hurts being bad.
35:41Yeah. To be like, uh, panic to start to set in a month in.
35:45Cause like you need it's October. It's just funny because like AJ Brown leaving.
35:49I it's, it's hard to just look back at Jalen hurts and figure out like, what was it?
35:54Because we said this before, but the first Superbowl against the chiefs, he was unbelievable.
35:59He was outstanding. Every throw he made was perfect.
36:01He had the one fumble. That was like his only faux pas of the entire game.
36:06And then the next two seasons, I feel like he's gotten a lot worse.
36:09And I don't think it's been AJ Brown's fault.
36:12And, but then it's like, well, how much are you putting on?
36:15The offensive line getting worse than not being able to run the ball as well.
36:20Kevin Petulo being a terrible play caller. And now all that's gone.
36:23I, I don't know where I, I, I land closer to like, I don't think Jalen hurts is as good as we
36:29thought he was, but maybe I'm wrong. And it will be like, we, we are underestimating how bad the Kevin Petulo offensive line whole situation was last year.
36:37But I lean closer to like Jalen hurts is more of a middle, middle of the road starting quarterback in the NFL.
36:43Then he is like a pro bowler. He's a very specific quarterback.
36:46He's unlike anybody else. He's a literally known for a play that almost got banned for the NFL.
36:51Cause it's so easy to run. He also can't throw on the run.
36:55He also struggles to throw over the middle. I think cause he's a little short and also his deep ball when it's on is immaculate.
37:02But he's like Russell Wilson kind of outplayed. I mean, the Hertz kind of outplayed my homes in the super bowl parallels
37:08for Russell Wilson and, and Hertz are pretty crazy.
37:11And Russell Wilson did not age super well. No, but yeah, we'll see.
37:14Okay. Thank you, DK. Thank you, Craig Eagles fans, Patriots fans, email us in.
37:18Who's are the Eagles fans going to be mad at us?
37:21You think, are they going to be like, yeah, I mean, we said it was a really good deal for them to
37:28get off it for like a hundred reasons. I think it made sense for both teams in the situations they are currently in.
37:34I mean, look, if AJ Brown has knee issues going forward, then the Eagles fans crushed it.
37:39I kind of think that it will probably be an immediate win for the Patriots cause AJ Brown will play well, but
37:45the Eagles getting a first round pick on a guy like that is, they just took a process.
37:50Yeah. It just, that's. And you kind of had to get rid of them.
37:54Yeah. Yeah. It had. Yeah. I, I like what you said, Greg, where you're, what did you say earlier?
37:59You're like, the Eagles are a worse team than AJ Brown.
38:02And also they had to get rid of them.
38:05And it's like the, sometimes it's run its course.
38:07It's run its course. And like, there's, there's nothing they could do.
38:11And if you can get a first round pick for a guy that you kind of had to get rid of, it's not bad.
38:17Right. Okay. Thank you to always one K always open.
38:20I hope AJ Brown goes on Instagram life. Thank you, DK.
38:23Thank you, Craig. Thank you for listening. Thank you, Cam.
38:26Thank you, Abu. Thank you, Carlos. Thank you, Austin.
38:29Yeah. Email us in if you're fans, if you're also, if you're like one of those fans, when a player gets traded
38:35on your team and you're just like looking at the news and you're like, how is, I have no idea why people
38:41think these things, which is how I felt about the Dexter Lawrence trade.
38:45Please email in if you're just bewildered by the general consensus.
38:48As I was when everyone's like, congrats on losing Dexter Lawrence.
38:51And I was like, what a great return. And I'm like, motherfucker.
38:54He's like the best defensive tackle in the most important position.
38:57I'm like, I hate this, but maybe I'm crazy.
39:00All right. Thank you, Lord. Lord. Thank you, Father John Misty.
39:03Oh yeah. I saw him once. Did you? Yeah.
39:05He opened. I saw him last year. He opened for Casey Musgraves in LA at the forum.
39:10Oh, nice. He opened for Casey. He's wow. I feel like he's big to open for Casey Musgraves.
39:15Yeah. Right there. I don't know. Maybe they're friends.
39:18Yeah, it's true. I saw him at a, wow.
39:20Some, yeah, I saw him somewhere in LA. I guess a Hollywood ball.
39:24I forget. He's, he's cool. I also didn't realize that he has accidentally released the last four albums he had on the same weekend as Kendrick Lamar.
39:31Oh, really? Is that right? Every album he has.
39:34Yeah, no, they don't go. They don't do it on purpose.
39:37Literally when Kendrick did GNX, Father John Misty was like, fuck, I can't believe this happened again.
39:42He's like, what the fuck? I couldn't, I was sitting far away, so maybe I'm wrong, but he seemed extremely tall.
39:48He does seem like a tall in person, like a taller in person guy.
39:51Real Love Baby is like one of the best songs.
39:54That's one of my favorite songs the last 10 years.
39:57That song is like the most easy listen, throw it on in the car.
40:01You're having a great time. That's a good viral.
40:04I don't think I realized that was him. That's a good viral music.
40:07Also the greatest TikTok I've ever seen was to that song.
40:10Do you want to describe a TikTok or is that the worst?
40:14No, it was the, it was like the, it was the new year.
40:17It was like a movie. Craig, I have bad news for you about our podcast.
40:21We do it a lot. Yeah. It was the new year's.
40:24The person were like, it's like a couple and they're dating and the person slowly starts to think that like the people are being replaced in the video.
40:32And he's like, has anyone noticed that you ever seen the video?
40:36I don't think so. I don't know how to, it actually is the best directed TikTok I've ever seen.
40:41I fucking hate the lack of monoculture sucks. All right.
40:44I'm just going to say it. Everything's too personalized.
40:46I hate that most of the time now someone's like, oh, you know the video?
40:51It's like the guy who he has the turtle and then they're going.
40:54And I'm like, I've never seen that in my life.
40:57It's like, oh, you know, the trend where people are doing that thing where they like put on the sweatshirt and they turn, they put it backwards.
41:05I'm like, I don't know what you're talking about.
41:07I didn't make my algorithm. And I can't find the one I want to show you either.
41:12Yeah, right. I don't know who did it. I don't know what the author is.
41:16There's no Google for memes. I don't know how to find it.
41:19There is a Google for memes, kind of. But like, not really.
41:23Like if you want to find a TikTok, unless you've already liked it, which is basically the only reason why I like TikToks is just saving them.
41:30Yes. It's just bookmarking them. And it's like, I live in my little cocoon and I watch my little videos alone and nobody else sees them.
41:38Concern for our brains. Okay. Did I do the thank you thing again?
41:41I did. Yeah. Okay. Once again. Father John Misty, good stuff.
41:44Real love, baby. He's good. Real love. Thank you, Lord.
41:47Oh, no. Fuck. We just did that. God damn it.
41:50Shit. Fuck. You are losing your marbles. Worse than me.
41:53Oh. It's bad. Fuck. Goodbye, everyone. Must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino.
41:59Or 18 plus and present in D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming.
42:02Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777. Or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut.
42:06Or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelpline ma.org.
42:09Or call 800-327-5050 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts. Or call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPE-NY in New York.
42:14For Louisiana, call 1-877-770-7867. Athletic Brewing Company crafts award-winning non-alcoholic beers for those who want to be part of every round.
42:20With over 185 flavor awards, they're exceptional NA beers that fit your lifestyle and any social occasion.
42:25Summer's full of good times, and athletic fits right in.
42:27Go to athleticbrewing.com to have brews delivered to your door.
42:30Or find them at a bar, restaurant, or store near you.
42:33Near Beer. Athletic Brewing Company. Fit for all times.
42:36At plies.com, it's not just about window treatments. It's about you.
42:39Your style, your space, your way. Whether you DIY or want the pros to handle it all, you'll have the confidence of knowing it's done right.
42:46From free expert design help to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, everything we do is made to fit your life and your windows.
42:52Shop up to 40% off with minimum purchase and a free professional measure right now at blinds.com.
42:57Plus, pay at your own pace starting at 0% APR with Affirm.
43:00Terms apply.