How New England Patriots trade for A.J. Brown could backfire

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There's two potential outcomes for every NFL trade. 

The first outcome is the trade works out well for a team. The second outcome is the opposite. And just because a trade looks good on paper doesn't mean that it always plays out like that on the field. 

Could Patriots ultimately regret trading for A.J. Brown? 

That brings us to the New England Patriots' recent acquisition of star wide receiver A.J. Brown. On paper, Brown's addition looks like a home run for New England, with many referring to him as the "missing piece" for a Super Bowl title for the Patriots.

But, what if things go the other way? 

Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon covered that possibility in a recent article examining how the biggest moves of the offseason could potentially backfire. He pointed to Brown's advancing age combined with his potential to be a distraction as reasons why the trade might not work out the way Patriots fans hope. 

"It's arguably a red flag that two teams have decided to trade Brown in or around his prime in the last four years. His addition could easily mess with a good thing in New England, especially if he becomes a distraction off the field," Gagnon wrote.

"He also turns 29 this month, and he's coming off his second-worst season as a pro. Don't be surprised if the Patriots have moved on by 2028 but are left without a first-round pick anyway." 

Only time will tell whether or not the decision to trade away a first-round pick for an aging, mercurial receiver was a good one for New England. For now, it remains too early to properly judge the deal. 

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