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.

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