Southern Miss WR Jason Brownlee has turned heads multiple times throughout the pre-draft process ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Golden Eagles star has the production and the quantified talent, but how exactly does he project to the NFL level?
Jason Brownlee NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Southern Miss
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height/Weight: 6’2 1/8″, 202 pounds
- Length: 33 7/8″
- Wingspan: 80 3/4″
- Hand: 9 3/4″
Don’t let anyone tell you the 2023 NFL Draft WR class isn’t deep because if it wasn’t, Brownlee would be getting more love as a prospect. He’s been well under the radar throughout the entire cycle, but his amalgamation of tools deserves more consideration.
For his part, Brownlee has been working to strengthen his perception. After amassing 135 catches for 2,144 yards and 21 touchdowns in three years at Southern Miss, Brownlee earned an invite to the NFLPA Bowl, where he stood out as a cut above the rest.
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Brownlee’s path then took him to the NFL Combine, where his testing numbers then took center stage. An unspectacular 4.59 40-yard dash was expected, but Brownlee had an excellent 1.52 10-yard split and also scored elite positional metrics in both the vertical jump and broad jump.
The NFL Combine is for cross-checking above anything else, but it also helps get prospects like Brownlee farther onto the radar. If he’s not on your radar yet, make sure you take a look at Brownlee’s game. He’s got what it takes to carve out a role in the NFL.
Jason Brownlee Scouting Report
Strengths
- Possesses a wiry, relatively compact frame with an elite catch radius and length profile.
- Can track, high-point, and make absurd body control adjustments for tough throws.
- Shows enough accelerative capacity out of releases to stack DBs and create space.
- Flashes great lateral twitch and foot speed for his size, and can offset DBs at the line.
- Amped-up short-area mover with outstanding energy and corrective athleticism.
- Able to throttle up into blind spots, then abruptly sink his hips and decelerate.
- Has a working release package, using split and diamond releases to gain displacement.
- Methodical route runner who uses combined short-area athleticism and physicality.
- Proactively physical receiver who uses his length to swipe at DB extensions in press.
- Urgent run blocker who squares up opponents and uses his length to bully defenders.
Areas for Improvement
- Visibly lacks high-end vertical speed and won’t routinely stretch the field.
- Doesn’t always have the necessary vertical range to run under deep passes.
- Can be fazed by tight coverage over the middle of the field and lose focus.
- Sometimes relies too much on physicality as a separator, pushing off at stems.
- At times, lets the ball get into his frame and can more consistently secure with hands.
- Leaner frame saps from play strength, at times delaying routes through tight coverage.
- High-energy style can yield wasted motion at times, leaving room for more efficiency.
- Lacks elite play strength as a blocker and doesn’t always drive DBs out of lanes.
Southern Miss WR Jason Brownlee Current Draft Projection
Brownlee grades out as a priority Day 3 prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, who could be a surprise Day 2 addition after testing well at the 2023 NFL Combine. He’s a definite sleeper in the 2023 NFL Draft WR class, but Brownlee has the combined athleticism, build, and route-running nuance to be a legitimate NFL contributor.
At around 6’2″, 202 pounds, with arms nearly 34″ long, Brownlee has an excellent frame and catch radius. And as he displayed with his 39.5″ vertical and 10’11” broad jump at the Combine, he has excellent explosive capacity and short-area energy to go along with that length.
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Brownlee actively uses his twitch, foot speed, and explosiveness to displace and stack defensive backs ahead of stems, and he has the hip sink and flexibility to cut stems as well. When the ball is in the air, he tracks it extremely well and can snare high passes with his reach and coordination. And that same lateral agility can be a boon after the catch.
Limiting Brownlee’s profile is his visible lack of deep speed and vertical freedom. Beyond that, he also lacks high-end play strength, can be prone to occasional body catches, and still has room to seek further efficiency as a route runner.
However, all this aside, Brownlee has the size, athleticism, and working nuance to be a valuable rotational receiver right away, and he could develop into a strong No. 2 or No. 3 receiver with particularly strong utility on the boundary.