SouthernWorldwide.com – A.J. Brown, the recently traded star wide receiver, left a poignant message for the Philadelphia Eagles organization as he departed.
He inscribed on a photo of himself at the Eagles’ facility, “The best to ever play here. Always open.” This sentiment was reportedly shared by Brown before his final departure last week, according to NFL Media.
The timing and nature of his message suggest a complex emotional landscape for Brown following his trade from the Eagles.
Philadelphia sent Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, to the New England Patriots last week. The trade involved a future first-round pick in 2028 and a fifth-round pick in 2027. This move occurred after Brown had publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with his limited target share in the team’s offense last season.
The trade was strategically delayed until June 1 to allow the Eagles to spread the salary cap implications of Brown’s departure over the next two years. Brown, aged 28, is entering the first year of a three-year contract worth $96 million.
During his four seasons with the Eagles, Brown played a significant role in their Super Bowl LIX victory. In the 2025 season, he recorded 78 receptions for 1,003 receiving yards, averaging 12.9 yards per reception, and scored seven touchdowns in 15 regular-season games.
Over his four-year tenure in Philadelphia, from 2022 to 2025, Brown averaged 84.8 receptions, 1,258.5 receiving yards per season (averaging 14.8 yards per reception), and eight touchdowns annually. His 5,034 receiving yards place him ninth in Eagles history, and he is tied for 12th with 32 receiving touchdowns.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Brown spent his first three NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2021. He was acquired by Philadelphia during the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown now joins the New England Patriots, a team that recently appeared in Super Bowl LX. He will be playing alongside quarterback Drake Maye, who was the runner-up for the 2025 NFL MVP Award. Maye led the league with a 113.5 passer rating and a 72.0% completion percentage.
Maye’s leadership propelled a New England offense that ranked second in the league in scoring, averaging 28.8 points per game. The team was also third in total yards (379.4 per game), fourth in passing yards (250.5 per game), and sixth in rushing yards (128.9 per game).
The Patriots had previously released wide receiver Stefon Diggs in March. Diggs had been the team’s leading receiver last season, with 85 receptions and 1,013 receiving yards.
The upcoming winter season will reveal whether A.J. Brown can indeed live up to his own declaration of becoming “the best to ever play” for the Patriots.
