A.J. Brown's move to the New England Patriots via June trade positions him as Drake Maye's primary target in an offense expected to feature heavy volume for the veteran wideout, building on his prior 78-reception, 1,003-yard campaign. The reunion with coach Mike Vrabel and coordinator Josh McDaniels supports projections of a 25% target share or higher, though training-camp reports noted early miscommunications and competition from receivers such as Kayshon Boutte. Brown's managed degenerative knee condition and prior hamstring issues remain factors in workload management, while the Week 1 opener against Seattle produced just three receptions amid a run-heavy script. Upcoming schedule strength, red-zone usage, and Maye's efficiency will shape his catch total across 17 games.