Patriots' Kevin Byard III compares A.J. Brown to superstar NFL receiver

New England Patriots safety Kevin Byard III previously shared locker rooms with wide receiver A.J. Brown during stints with the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Byard later spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Chicago Bears, when he got used to going up against Minnesota Vikings offenses that featured superstar pass-catcher Justin Jefferson. During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Byard compared Brown to Jefferson.

How opposing defenses may view A.J. Brown in Patriots offense

"When I was in Chicago, we obviously played against a guy in Justin Jefferson, and, for the most part, you need to point out where Justin Jefferson was on every single play," Byard explained, per Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "It's the same thing with A.J. When I'm lined up at safety, and I'm deep back there, 12, 14, 15 yards, whatever, I'm going to identify, where's A.J.? You know what I mean? Like, where's he at? Is he lined up way out on the boundary at the X? Is he lined up in the slot or whatever? Let's identify where he is, and now I can kind of get a good base on, OK, this is where the No. 1 player is. The running back's here, tight end's here. So, it just shifts your philosophy on how you want to play defense."

Jefferson may be the most talented wide receiver in the league today. Brown doesn't have such a reputation heading into his first season with the Patriots, but he allegedly was "a nightmare" for New England players to go up against during June practices. 

After New England acquired Brown from Philadelphia in early June, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels compared the 29-year-old to future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski. It's assumed that third-year quarterback Drake Maye will look for Brown early and often in red-zone situations and against man coverage.

What A.J. Brown allegedly "does best"

"Do you play cloud over top of him? 'Cause you don't really want to leave him one-on-one," Byard added about Brown. "I mean, that's what A.J. does best. He's gonna run those slants, those quick dig routes, those go balls. I don't think anybody in the league is better than him when it comes to those routes and being able to break a tackle and take it the distance. So, he's just a phenomenal athlete, phenomenal talent."

It remains to be seen if Maye and Brown will get along through the end of their first season together. That relationship may eventually deteriorate, but those running the Patriots probably won't care all that much if Brown helps New England win the Super Bowl in February 2027.