There were two massive trades in the NFL on Monday and both had implications for the New York Jets. The Cleveland Brownstraded superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett and signaled their intentions to target a quarterback in the 2027 NFL draft. Elsewhere, more notably for the Jets, their AFC East rival New England Patriots traded for superstar wide receiver A.J. Brown, sending a future first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Jets now have to deal with Brown in their division. The Patriots won the AFC East and represented the conference in Super Bowl 60 a year ago. Trading for Brown means Mike Vrabel and the Patriots obviously have designs on repeating last season’s success.
The Jets will first play against Brown in Week 6 when they visit Gillette Stadium. Their rematch with the Patriots in East Rutherford is scheduled for Week 16. Jets boundary cornerbacks Nahshon Wright, Brandon Stephens, and Azareye’h Thomas could be the ones to earn the Brown assignment in coverage.
Brown has played versus the Jets just once in his career. It occurred in 2023, his second season with the Eagles. Brown torched the Jets, recording seven receptions for 131 yards. The Jets actually won that game 20-14.
Brown landing in the AFC East is disappointing news for the Jets.
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ESPN sources: The Eagles are trading Pro-Bowl WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick that is the better of New England’s two fifths. The deal that has been speculated on for weeks now finally is happening. Brown and Patriots… pic.twitter.com/9Z8ocpyeJf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2026
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: New York Jets now have to deal with A.J. Brown in AFC East
