Kevin Byard: A.J. Brown shifts your philosophy on how you play defense

Stefon Diggs was the Patriots' top wideout last season. A.J. Brown is the Patriots' top wideout this season.

What a difference a No. 1 wideout makes.

Patriots safety Kevin Byard compared Brown's presence to Justin Jefferson's presence with the Vikings. Byard, who played with Brown in Philadelphia for 10 games in 2023, faced Jefferson four times in the past two seasons in Chicago.

"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 said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "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."

Brown's presence will give Drake Maye better matchups, even if the three-time Pro Bowler is covered.

"Do you play cloud over top of [Brown]? 'Cause you don't really want to leave him one-on-one," Byard said. "I mean that's what A.J. does best. He's going to 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."

The Patriots upgraded their No. 2 wide receiver, too, by signing Romeo Doubs.