A.J. Brown Earns High Praise From Patriots: ‘Closest Thing I’ve Seen Is Gronk’

A.J. Brown has already made a strong impression on his new team. 

The New England Patriots' newest wide receiver received strong praise from head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Tuesday. In fact, after seeing Brown practice for the first time since the Patriots traded for him on Monday, McDaniels compared the star wideout to one of the greatest Patriots players of all time.  

"There’s a force to the way he plays the game … Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is Gronk," McDaniels told reporters, referring to former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. "This is a big guy."

Gronkowski became synonymous with the Patriots’ physical identity during his career, dominating defenders with his size, strength and presence in the red zone. Gronkowski logged 79 touchdown receptions in his nine seasons with the Patriots, as New England hopes Brown can be its next great red zone threat. 

Vrabel believes that Brown can not only succeed in that role, but he also thinks the wide receiver can bring a similar edge to New England’s offense that Gronkowski once did. 

"I think he loves football," Vrabel told reporters on Tuesday. "I think that he has a physical skill set. I think he’s got great body control. I think he’s strong at the catch point, but I also think he’s grown as a player and wide receiver."

Vrabel has seen Brown’s development firsthand. He coached Brown for three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, seeing the 2019 second-round pick quickly blossom into one of the NFL's top pass-catchers. As the two team up again for the first time since 2021, Vrabel still has a unique understanding of what Brown can bring both on and off the field.

"Just the nuances of release versus press or playing versus bracketed