2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ji’Ayir Brown (DB – Penn State)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Ji’Ayir Brown.

Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ji’Ayir Brown (DB – Penn State)

Ji’Ayir Brown (DB – Penn State)

5’11” – 208 lbs.

Background:

Rotated into the defense in 2020, totaling 130 snaps on the year and recording six tackles, then stepped into a starting role the following year, posting 73 tackles, six interceptions, and five breakups. Had a similar line this past year (74-7.0-4.5 with four interceptions and three breakups) before declaring for the draft.

Positives:

Two-year starter who has experience doing a bit of everything; lines up as a deep safety or in the box most frequently (mostly the former this past year, and the latter in 2021), but also takes some snaps in the slot. Plays with aggressiveness, decisiveness, and physicality. Fast, explosive athlete with fluid hips; flies around the field and can carry receivers deep from man, or get out to the sidelines and provide help over the top in high zones. Quick transitions from backpedaling to driving on a spot and can deliver hits to jar throws loose or make quick tackles after the catch on routes breaking over the middle of the field. Very willing in run support and can help set the tone defensively. Has the ability to jolt blockers on contact when flowing to the ball. Showed some ability to rush the passer this past year.

Negatives:

Would like to see him play more conservatively as the last line of defense; may be temperamentally better-suited to a box role, but is slightly smaller than you’d like in the box. Gets into plays because of his speed and range, but could play with better instincts and recognition skills. Tendency is to play downhill, which can lead him to be lured toward the line of scrimmage by play action. Can get caught peeking into the backfield and relies too heavily on his recovery speed. Overruns some of his spots as a tackler and can miss some tackles in space; missed 14.6% of career tackles in total and needs to be more consistent about breaking down.

Summary:

A high-risk, high-reward prospect who offers a highly impressive combination of speed, fluidity, explosiveness, and intensity which allowed him to do a little bit of everything in school, but who can play out of control and still needs to improve his recognition skills and technique to get the most from his physical tools. Would probably fit best in a system which let him play downhill, using his natural aggression and physicality to set the tone defensively, at least initially, in order to minimize the chances of him being caught out of position in high coverage.

Projection: Round 4