New England Patriots
“It’s something I was secretly hoping for. Same old guy. He’s a phenomenal talent.”
A.J. Brown has impressed already with the Patriots. Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images
June 10, 2026 | 5:14 PM
2 minutes to read
FOXBOROUGH – A.J. Brown’s standing as an elite receiver in the NFL has been established for years now.
But new Patriots safety Kevin Byard had a front-row seat to Brown’s emergence as a game-changing talent during his early days in the NFL.
In total, Byard has played alongside Brown for five seasons — three years with the Titans, one year in Philadelphia, and now for the upcoming 2026 season with the Patriots.
While the 32-year-old Byard — fresh off an All-Pro season with the Bears — should represent a sizable upgrade for New England’s secondary, he believes Brown will offer a similar boost for the Pats’ pass-catching corps.
“Of course I was excited,” Byard said of Brown’s arrival. It’s something I was secretly hoping for. Same old guy. He’s a phenomenal talent.
“Haven’t seen any difference from when he was back in Tennessee in his first couple years of the league. And just my 10-game stint in Philly, same guy. Same guy to go up and make plays one-on-one. A nightmare for defenses.”
Brown — acquired from the Eagles in a blockbuster deal for a 2028 first-round pick and 2027 fifth-round selection — has already hit the ground running in New England.
The 28-year-old wideout has already developed a strong rapport with Drake Maye — hauling in a few back-shoulder throws from the Patriots QB so far during minicamp.
“They’re already developing that relationship,” Byard said of Brown’s chemistry with Maye. “Anytime A.J.’s backside at X [reciever], I know that’s where the ball is probably going. So I try to cheat my alignments and stuff like that.
“Drake is a phenomenal quarterback. I think he’s very [in] command of the whole team. Just even seeing him in the locker room, very approachable guy. And then obviously I know A.J., so that relationship has always been there.”
Of course, there’s only so much that can be gleaned from these sleepy days of the offseason — especially before the pads come on in late July during training camp.
But Byard likes what he’s seen so far from this Patriots team — especially with Brown added to the mix.
“Obviously, it’s early right now, it’s OTA stuff, so we’re not scheming against them, but [Brown’s a] guy for sure, like, when I’m back there in the post or I’m back deep, I’m making sure I know exactly where he is, because I know that’s where Drake’s going with the ball,” Byard said. “So phenomenal guy. Just happy he’s my teammate again.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
