Patriots' AJ Brown Falls in Preseason Ranking, But He's Still Strong

News ArticlePublishedJul 15, 2026 at 04:32 PM EDTA.J. Brown may have slipped a few spots in this year's rankings, dropping from No. 5 to No. 9 in ESPN's survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, but let's not get carried away. He's still one of the best wide receivers in football. Rankings move around, narratives change and the NFL always loves a new storyline, but Brown's talent hasn't suddenly disappeared.After his recent trade from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots, Brown enters a new chapter with something to prove, even though he's already proven plenty. There has been plenty of discussion surrounding his time in Philadelphia and whether he has lost a step, but the reality is much simpler: he's still a scary matchup for defensive backs.NFL evaluators clearly see