A.J. Brown enters the 2026 regular season as New England’s clear No. 1 wide receiver after a June trade from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick. The 29-year-old joins quarterback Drake Maye in an offense expected to feature heavier passing volume than the Eagles’ run-heavy scheme, where Brown posted 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 games in 2025. Team officials and Brown have downplayed ongoing knee maintenance concerns, noting his history of durability with at least 15 appearances in three of the prior four seasons. As the featured target in Mike Vrabel’s system, his target share and route volume will directly influence reception totals, though the new environment and age-related factors introduce variability in workload and efficiency.