Titans young duo quickly becoming NFL’s best LB tandem
By Brady Akins
Jayon Brown
While Evans came to the NFL with the status and expectations of a first-round pick from a college football blue-blood, Jayon Brown’s journey to the NFL tracks a bit different.
Not that Brown was plucked from college football obscurity, but more that his alma mater UCLA Bruins weren’t exactly operating on a level close to the Crimson Tide during Evans’ playing days. And with that high level of team success came a huge spotlight for Evans’ talents to shine, while Brown became more of a diamond in the rough prospect after a 4-8 season in his final college year.
More from Titan Sized
- Tennessee Titans suspiciously quiet about major draft need
- Tennessee Titans agree to new deal with star Jeffery Simmons
- Caesars Promo Code Expires Soon – Claim $1,250 Today
- 3 needs that are being overblown by Tennessee Titans fans
- Tennessee Titans have potential dilemmas in 2023 NFL Draft
But Brown’s fall to Day Three of the NFL Draft, as it would turn out, was not a reflection of the talent the linebacker had. And despite falling to the fifth round in 2017, Brown actually had a strong individual senior season for himself.
Brown’s 2016 college campaign looked and felt close to what Evans was able to do in 2019 with the Titans. Racking up tackles, getting into the backfield, and being a threat all over the field. But even more than his ability to bring down the ball carrier, Jayon Brown shined in his senior season when it came to creating turnovers and playing coverage.
Two fumble recovers, three interceptions, and six passes defended would all be in the top three for a stacked UCLA defensive roster that included Fabien Moreau, Takkarist McKinley, and Kenny Young– and Jayon Brown shined brighter than all of them. And the skills he showed in college would prove to be more than a fluke.
To this day, even in the NFL, the fifth-round Jayon Brown is still the pass defending, turnover creating, skilled coverage linebacker that he was in college. For a Day Three pick, Brown has proven in just three years’ time that he is more than simply a “good value pick,” he’s a bonafide starter with the skills to hang with anyone.
With tackle numbers on par with Evans’, and on even fewer defensive snaps (75% of all defensive plays compared to Evans’ 86%), Brown has used his strong ball tracking and coverage ability to keep the defense in check. And with those skills working in tandem with Evans’, the two together have the potential to make one of the strongest linebacker pairings in the entire NFL.