The New England Patriots have spent two decades trading for WRs to varying degrees of success. The AJ Brown trade is just the latest chapter in this long running story.

Below I’ll break down some of the biggest trades in those 20 years and provide some context on how this deal compares.

Wes Welker - 2007
Age at trade: 25
Contract years remaining: 5 (signed a new contract upon being traded to New England)
Cap hit % for year traded: 2.7% of team total
Trade Compensation: 2007 2nd and 7th round picks
Context: Welker had played in 32 games and had 1,121 receiving yards prior to being traded to New England. Many viewed the price as an expensive overpay for a slot receiver with limited production.

Randy Moss - 2007
Age at trade: 30
Contract years remaining: 1
Cap hit % for year traded: 2.3%
Trade Compensation: 2007 4th round pick
Context: Despite his elite talent, Moss’ value had cratered after two rough seasons in Oakland, where many had concerns about his effort and attitude. At the time, many viewed the Patriots’ acquisition as a gamble on a struggling former star.

Brandin Cooks - 2017
Age at trade: 23
Contract years remaining: 2
Cap hit % for year traded: 0.9%
Trade Compensation: 2017 1st and 3rd round picks (received a 2017 4th back with Cooks)
Context: The young Cooks was coming off two straight 1,000 yard seasons with the Saints. The Pats paid a premium price, for a young deep threat.

Josh Gordon - 2018 (In season)
Age at trade: 27
Contract years remaining: 0 (Traded in season during contract year)
Cap hit % for year traded: 0.4%
Trade Compensation: 2019 5th round pick (received a 2019 7th back with Gordon)
Context: Years of suspensions left many questioning if Gordon would ever play in the league again. The Pats were viewed as taking a low cost and low risk chance on a gifted player whose career was riddled with off the field issues.

Mohammed Sanu - 2019 (In season)
Age at trade: 30
Contract years remaining: 1
Cap hit % for year traded: 3.5%
Trade Compensation: 2020 2nd round pick
Context: Sanu was regarded as a reliable veteran possession receiver but never a true star. The Pats decision to make this trade was widely viewed as an aggressive overpay for a complementary receiver at best.

AJ Brown - 2026
Age at trade: 28 (29 at season start)
Contract years remaining: 4
Cap hit % for year traded: 2.25%
Trade Compensation: 2028 1st round pick, and 2027 5th round pick
Context: Brown arrives as a fully established top ten receiver in the league, with multiple 1,000 yard seasons. His low cap hit in 2026 only makes him a more attractive WR1 this season. (Most WR1s have a cap hit % between 7 and 11 percent) This might be viewed by many as an overpay but is proof that the Pats are trying to capitalize on Drake Maye’s rookie contract.

Since Randy Moss left in 2010, the Patriots have cycled through stopgaps, gambles, and complementary pieces in their search for acquiring a true WR1 via trade. AJ Brown ends that drought. He arrives as a fully realized top ten WR, without the baggage that preceded Moss, and without the developmental uncertainty that surrounded Cooks or Welker.

Brown represents the most complete, high caliber WR New England has acquired via trade in two decades and the clearest signal yet that the franchise intends to maximize Drake Maye's rookie window. The trade compensation reflects that and is fair given the caliber of player and relatively cheap cap hits.