PFF scouting report: Noah Brown, WR, Ohio State

Name: Noah Brown

School: Ohio State

Position fit: Outside receiver

Stats to know: 2016 target profile: 22 percent hitches, 18 go routes, 14 out routes. Seven of his 33 career receptions went for touchdowns.

What he does best:

• Accelerates into his routes. Can run the vertical route tree and threaten cornerbacks.
• Makes some spectacular catches. Large catch radius, uses his long arms to catch the ball away from his body.
• Will make contested catches in traffic and secures the ball through big hits over the middle of the field.
• Uses his big frame to shield defenders from the ball, excels at boxing out defensive backs in the end zone.
• Uses his hands well as a route-runner.
• Flashes an effective stiff arm after the catch; the first defender often bounces off him despite his low YAC total.
• Ranked 18th of all NCAA WRs in blocking grade in 2016, consistently pancakes and decleats defensive backs.
• Physical and competitive on crack blocks against both linebackers and safeties and looks to block through the whistle.

Biggest concern:

• Slow in and out of his breaks on horizontal routes.
• Small sample size – missed the 2015 season due to injury, and was seventh on the WR depth chart in 2014 (130 snaps, 1 target).
• Only 50 targets in his career, 49 of which came in 2016.
• Not explosive in the open field, averaged just 3.1 YAC/reception in 2016.
• May not provide much in the short and intermediate game.
• Dropped three out of 35 catchable passes in 2016.

Bottom line: Brown is a physical, well-built receiver that uses his long arms and above-average catch radius to his advantage in a variety of situations. He is one of the most fearless blockers in the draft class, and repeatedly put both linebackers and defensive back on the ground as a major cog in the Ohio State rushing attack. He still has a lot of work to do as a route-runner, but the big-play potential is there as he develops his game while likely contributing on special teams early in his career.