When the Tennessee Titans selected Mississippi wide receiver A.J. Brown with the 51st overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, many around the league saw it as a steal. Not only was Brown considered by most to be the best receiving prospect in the entire draft, but it would be another solid weapon for a team that was still struggling to find its offensive identity.
Taking a quick look at Brown’s draft stats thanks to NFL.com’s Draft tracker, it isn’t too shocking to see why so many loved Brown.
During the NFL Combine, Brown posted a 4.49 40-yard dash, had a 36.5-inch vertical jump, and a 120-inch broad jump. Thanks to the combination of his special skillset and frame, Brown was compared to JuJu Smith-Schuster by Lance Zierlein.
While draft comparisons should always be taken with a grain of salt, this one might not too much of a stretch. Brown is known for being an excellent and speedy route runner, having strong hands, and being one of the better receivers in the draft when it comes to finding balls in the air. Smith-Schuster possesses a ton of these skills as well, so for the Titans sake, Brown will grow into a player of that caliber.
After finishing last season with a 9-7 record and failing to make the playoffs, the Titans saw offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur leave, but much of the remaining staff stay behind. With head coach Mike Vrabel now in his second year with the team, the Titans are hoping for breakout years from quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back Derrick Henry, especially considering the AFC South’s sudden emergence as a competitive division.
If Brown is able to play up to his NFL comparison, they shouldn't have a problem seeing improvements out of the team.
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