Taking wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown with their first pick in the NFL Draft, the Ravens addressed a major need with a big-time playmaker.
After trading down from No. 22 to No. 25 in a move with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Ravens selected Brown, a 5-foot-9, 166-pound speedster from Oklahoma.
He was the first wide receiver drafted after being one of the most explosive players in college football last season. Last season, he had 75 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 17.1 yards per catch.
Harbaugh: "He's the kind fo player we like. He's a Raven. He's always been a guy that's had to overcome. He has a certain toughness to him and he's a playmaker. He's a perfect fit for the offense we're trying to build."
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 26, 2019
Brown and quarterback Kyler Murray, who was the first-overall pick in the draft by the Arizona Cardinals, formed a dynamic duo at Oklahoma. The Ravens hope Brown and quarterback Lamar Jackson can bring form a similar pairing in Baltimore.
Brown is often compared to DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles, listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds. Jackson has played 11 years, produced five 1,000-yard seasons, and has topped 10,000 career yards receiving while averaging 17.4 yards per catch.
The biggest question surrounding Brown is his size. He will be one of the NFL’s smallest players. But, the Ravens faced similar questions about Jackson, who many called too thin. They let Jackson run, despite fears that he could get injured, and they will deploy Brown, even though he’s a smaller wideout. The upside outweighs the downside.
Hollywood Brown. pic.twitter.com/j6jigP31Pl
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) April 16, 2019
ESPN’s Todd McShay believes Brown will be a special playmaker.
“He’s the only wide receiver in this class that I feel great about in the first round,” McShay said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever evaluated a wide receiver with the better combination of quickness and speed than Hollywood Brown.”
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