A.J. Brown declares for 2019 NFL Draft

Junior wide receiver A.J. Brown announced that he would forego his senior season at Ole Miss, and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Wide receiver A.J. Brown, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound receiver is coming off a stellar season as the Rebels’ top receiver, where he notched 85 receptions, 1,320 receiving yards, and six touchdowns all 12 games.

After the conclusion of the season, Brown announced that he would forego his final season of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. Brown is a big-bodied receiver; a sizable target that could bolster any offense. Projected as a first-round pick, and a top wide receiver for the upcoming draft, he could very well be the first wide receiver off the board in the 2019 NFL Draft.

His last two seasons have been very productive for Ole Miss. The Rebels liked him in the slot due to his size, catch radius, and yards after catch ability. Although he most likely won’t run sub-4.5 at the combine’s 40 yard dash, he makes up for his lack of straight line speed with his hands and versatility.

Brown could play in the slot or on the outside as a receiver at the next level. NFL receivers tend to rely on their speed, but with Brown, although he won’t outrun many defenders, he is able to utilize his huge frame to box out corners and win contested catches.

Brown could be a real mismatch as a redzone target, but don’t sleep on his yards after catch skills. Brown projects for to be a nice addition to a west coast offense, or any offense that allows him to operate in space and fight for contested catches. Brown has a versatile set of skills that will make him a good fit in many offensive schemes.

The 2019 NFL Draft class has plenty of other big names at wide receiver, so A.J. Brown will have to continue to prove himself through the draft process.