Chad Graff

Senior writer at @TheAthletic covering the Patriots. Adjunct at @NUjournalism. High-handicapped golfer, low-rated tennis player, seeker of a good old fashioned.

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

After the Super Bowl loss, Mike Vrabel stressed to his team how little they’d been together.

And he told them the Patriots would be back.

Now, they’re pushing their chips in and trading for AJ Brown. Free story here: https://t.co/VwHayc3G3r

[Zach Berman @ZBerm]

Why were the Eagles willing to wait until 2028 for the A.J. Brown trade return?

Inside the Eagles' strategy — one that has been in the organization for decades and has guided the thinking on deals from A.J. Feeley to Haason Reddick, on @TheAthletic:
https://t.co/XtukmhFutG

[Brody Miller @BrodyAMiller]

Included in this: A great video with PGA Tour highlights because (news!) @TheAthletic officially has video rights, which will include highlight packages from each tournament and reporter-led videos with awesome tour content

Soon, we'll also have formal leaderboards on the app

[Zach Berman @ZBerm]

My overall view on the deal...

- A.J. Brown wanted to play elsewhere and it was going to be untenable to keep him. At that point, it was finding the right deal.
- They were able to land a 1st-rd pick, which was key for them. I'm not one who views the '28 pick as a downgrade if they planned for the '26 season accordingly. The long view has served them well in previous trades, and with the Patriots in particular, the unknown of '28 could be advantageous.
- A '26 pick would have been appealing to help this year's roster, but the Eagles wanted the post-June 1 date for cap purposes. That's the tradeoff they needed to make.
- There's no spinning the team being better off this season because of this deal. They're worse tomorrow than they were yesterday. A.J. Brown is an elite player. But they also had a long runway to plan, and they've made enough moves for an intriguing passing game if the Hurts-Mannion partnership is fruitful.
- I can't imagine there were celebrations in the building today. Howie Roseman moved mountains to try to land a player like Brown. He's popular in the locker room and well-regarded in the organization. They signed him to a new deal hoping he'd finish his career here. For it to end this way is not ideal, but it's the business.
- I'd imagine it's natural to have some bitterness when somebody wants out, but Eagles fans should look fondly at Brown and the past 4 years. It was the best 4-year run by an Eagles WR ever. He made two Super Bowls (caught TDs in both), rewrote the record books. And isn't part of the joy of being a sports fan witnessing greatness? That's what Brown offered.

[Zach Berman @ZBerm]

Caught up with Howie Roseman. Much more to come on @TheAthletic later this evening.

Roseman made clear that the Eagles required a first-round pick if they were going to satisfy Brown's desire for a fresh start elsewhere.

That was the line in the sand for Roseman — even if it was a down-the-road pick.

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

AJ Brown will wear No. 1 with the Patriots.

[New England Patriots @Patriots]

WR1

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

What it means that the Patriots traded for AJ Brown 👇

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

A blockbuster: The Patriots traded a first-round pick for AJ Brown.

Free gift link to the story with @ZBerm: https://t.co/EYEiHcBC1h

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

Happy June.

The expectation around the league is that the Patriots will trade for AJ Brown this month with the window for that kind of move opening at 4 pm today.

More details here: https://t.co/CrqOtJwMmZ

[The Athletic @TheAthletic]

Around the NFL, A.J. Brown to the New England patriots has been the expectation.

So as June 1 nears, let’s reset and look at how we’ve gotten to this point, how likely a deal is and what a trade could look like.

Read more from @ChadGraff: https://t.co/DO7S8DMQUP

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

Here’s Mike Vrabel’s answer on how players have viewed his leadership this spring.

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

Here’s what Mike Vrabel said when asked how he’s handled the distraction that stemmed from his absence on Day 3 of the draft.

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

Here's who is not at the Patriots' voluntary practice today:

Carlton Davis
Kayshon Boutte
Mack HOllins
Christian Gonzalez
Gabe Jacas
Harold Landry
Kyle Dixon

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

A look at Patriots offseason winners and losers as OTAs near. Free gift link here 👇 https://t.co/L8VFjopa4j

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

Going through 2024 Patriots snap counts (for a story, not for fun) ....... and I had totally forgotten that Demontrey Jacobs played the second-most snaps of any player on offense.

And Vederian Lowe 4th-most. And Michael Jordan 6th-most.

What a year that was.

[FOX Sports: NFL @NFLonFOX]

He's backkkkk 👀

The GOAT @TomBrady returns to New England for the first time as a broadcaster in Week 9 when the @packers take on the @Patriots on FOX 👏📺

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

The Patriots play five games in prime time this year, including the NFL's first game of the 2026 season.

Free gift link: https://t.co/GP0dgdWkME

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

Here's the Patriots' 2026 schedule. That stretch after Thanksgiving is going to be a gauntlet.

[Chad Graff @ChadGraff]

@RussoHockey @AnthonyLaPanta Having flashbacks to “Not now, LaPanta!”

[Gabby Herzig @GabbyHerzig]

We're back with another daily @TheAthletic newsletter from the majors! Subscribe for free to have @alex_kirshner and I in your inbox with PGA Championship analysis and on the ground insights: https://t.co/59jkp5hlIN

Also, here's a sick video of Scottie throwing a dart: