Rob Gronkowski calls AJ Brown the 'X factor' to put Patriots back in Super Bowl contention

The New England Patriots have acquired A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2028 1st-round pick and a 2027 5th-round pick. Colin Cowherd reacts to the trade and asks if this will help the Patriots return to the Super Bowl.

A.J. Brown is already putting in work with his New England Patriots teammates after months of trade rumors led to the Philadelphia Eagles finally shipping the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to Foxborough.

It’s a marriage that both sides were seeking, with Brown’s frustrating 2025 campaign coming to an end with a Wild Card Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers at home. Now, he slots right in as the team’s top receiver with Stefon Diggs out after just one year.

The Patriots are the reigning AFC champions, though they were unable to notch another ring after the Seattle Seahawks beat them in Super Bowl LX earlier this year. But they’re hoping the addition of Brown, to go along with their young, dynamic roster, is what they need to get back.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown warms up during training camp at NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia, Pa., on July 24, 2025. (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)

One Patriots legend believes he is the key to at least getting them back in contention.

"I think he’s going to be the X factor to put the Patriots back into contention of being in the Super Bowl," Rob Gronkowski, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, told Fox News Digital, while highlighting his partnership with Ryde: "I mean, it’s so hard to claim you’re going to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl. But I would say he’s the X factor of getting them in contention of being Super Bowl contenders again.

AJ BROWN TRADE OUTCOME: DIANNA RUSSINI