Black and Teal
FanSided

2017 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars select Linebacker Blair Brown in Round 5

By Luke Sims

Sep 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Ohio Bobcats safety Nathan Carpenter (35) and linebacker Blair Brown (33) tackle Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Rodney Smith (24) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Ohio Bobcats safety Nathan Carpenter (35) and linebacker Blair Brown (33) tackle Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Rodney Smith (24) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Blair Brown joins a talented linebacker corps with the Jacksonville Jaguars following his fifth round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Not to slight Blair Brown, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are stacked at linebacker already. So stacked that it is a little surprising to see the Jags take another linebacker in the the 2017 NFL Draft.


That said, Brown, coming out of Ohio, is a linebacker with instincts that make teams happy to give him a chance. He will be a role contributor for the Jaguars and will likely have to fight to get reps on the defense, but when he steps on the field he won’t be creating problems for the defense. The Jags D won’t skip a beat with him on the field.

A top performer at the NFL Scouting Combine in the vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle, Brown also brings some athleticism with him.

More from Jaguars Draft

This pick, like the fourth round selection of Dede Westbrook, is more about value than anything else. While there are other holes to fill on the Jags roster, few players from the fifth round and later will come in and be a starter immediately. Putting that expectation on Brown would be foolish. But he has high upside and could be a contributor when he sees the field.

Importantly, Brown looks like a Tom Coughlin-type guy. He grinds it out and has a workman mentality for the game. If he can keep his nose to the grindstone and work his way up, the Jags will find a way to get him involved somehow.

On the whole, this is a good pick for the Jaguars even if it is a depth pick. Don’t expect a lot of attention to be on Brown in the coming season, but if you hear his name don’t be surprised.

Home/Jaguars Draft