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Why did Jacksonville Jaguars sign WR Dyami Brown? GM James Gladstone says he's 'ascending'
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- Why did Jacksonville Jaguars sign WR Dyami Brown? GM James Gladstone says he's 'ascending'
Though the Jacksonville Jaguars did not sign any well-known, big-name, "splash" players in free agency , they did go after a receiver who may turn out to be a diamond in the rough.
Jacksonville signed former Washington Commanders receiver Dyami Brown to a one-year, $10 million contract with $9.5 million in guaranteed money. Brown can make an additional $2 million through incentives, according to OverTheCap.
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Though the money seems like a large investment, contracts are often dictated by who has recently signed. For instance, before Brown inked his deal with the Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams receiver Tutu Atwell signed a similar one-year, $10 million contract with L.A . The deal is nearly identical to Brown's.
Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone: NFL free agency approach 'very disciplined'
The production of the two wideouts is also similar enough, though Atwell has a slight advantage through playing time.
Brown has started 10 games, appearing in 63, since being drafted by the Commanders in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. He's caught 59 passes for 748 yards and four touchdowns. His best season came last year when Brown caught 30 passes for 308 yards and a TD.
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By comparison, Atwell has started 23 games, appearing in 54, since being drafted by the Rams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Atwell has caught 99 passes for 1,343 yards and four scores.
In three playoff games this year, Brown caught 14 passes for 229 yards and a TD. In three playoff games in his career, Atwell has caught two passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
So, while the value might not appear there at first glance given Brown's production levels, the market is there and Jaguars general manager James Gladstone believes his career is really just beginning.
Dyami Brown expected to bring 'alluring' talent to Jaguars offense
Nov 6, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown (2) runs out of the tunnel with teammates prior to their game against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Brown's career stats aren't very impressive. He was seldom utilized through four years in the NFL and did not contribute much until late last season and into the postseason.
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Still, what Gladstone and Jacksonville's staff have seen on tape, gives them confidence in his future ascension.
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"Yeah, I think it's easy to look at Dyami's career path and trajectory and know that he's ascending, right? The way that he closed out last season was nothing short of impressive and we look for him to carry that into really his one-year contract with us," Gladstone said, noting that Brown is betting on himself to get an opportunity to earn a much larger contract next year.
"What he provides just on a vertical plane and in run-after-catch scenarios is something that is extremely exciting, extremely alluring for our offensive staff and I think that he'll be able to take another step to expand his game," Gladstone added.
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"We'll see him come to life in the same ways that he did towards the end of the season with Washington this last season right off the bat while also expanding his role to fit what we're intending on doing this coming season."
Jacksonville has had to make up for talent lost from a pass-catching perspective this offseason. They traded away top wideout Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans while they released tight end Evan Engram , who signed with the Denver Broncos . Both players were Lawrence's top targets, now set to catch passes from other quarterbacks.
In Brown, Lawrence and head coach Liam Coen could get a versatile player on the outside, allowing Brian Thomas Jr. to slot inside more. It also gives Lawrence a safety net in the short passing game, as Brown has a propensity to get upfield in a hurry after catching a short route.
That's borne out through his numbers with the Commanders last year, too. According to NextGenStats, Brown caught 25 of his 30 passes under 10 yards. He had a catch rate over expectation of +7.5%, making him a sure-handed pass-catcher in the short game. He showcased his downfield ability during the postseason.
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In the playoffs, Brown caught 5 of 7 downfield targets (10+ air yards) for 141 yards and a TD through two games. Against the Lions, Brown caught 6 of 8 targets for 98 yards (80 of his yards came on targets 10+ yards downfield). It proves his versatility, albeit on a small sample size.
That's what Jacksonville is banking on with Brown, and they believe he will take on a strong role within Jacksonville's offense this year.
"I will say that we do expect him to have a strong output and one that, given the opportunity that currently lies in front of him, is very vivid and that he'll be getting plugged a bit more than he was probably used to in years prior," said Gladstone.
Dyami Brown excited to work with Brian Thomas Jr.
Brown enters Jacksonville with very few expectations. He signed in free agency after his agent handled the new process for him. He got briefed on the situation, and now he's in a new part of the country.
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Still, he's familiar with at least two players he will get to work with a lot this year: Trevor Lawrence and Brian Thomas Jr.
While Brown had not met Lawrence personally, he's seen his career from afar dating back to his time in college at Clemson. "So, I expect big things," Brown said shortly after inking his deal with Jacksonville.
When asked about working with Thomas, Brown's eyes lit up.
"Man, I saw what he did this past year, and he's a dog. Just being beside him, being two dogs, and being two competitors, I think we can do big things in this offense," said Brown.
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He answered in kind when asked what he brings to the table.
"That dog mentality. People can always evaluate. You got a speedster, he can go deep and all the other stuff. But, man, at the end of the day, I'm gonna hold myself to a higher standard, and I'm holding people around me to a higher standard. So, just bringing that dog mentality in order to be great, and wanting to be great, that's what I bring," said Brown.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars believe they had to add 'ascending' Dyami Brown
