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What the Saints are getting in Barion Brown: Fit and scouting report
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- What the Saints are getting in Barion Brown: Fit and scouting report
As the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft unfolded on Saturday, the New Orleans Saints selected LSU Tigers wide receiver Barion Brown with a sixth round choice. Taken with the 190th overall pick, Brown was the third of three receivers that the Saints added through the draft. He's also the first LSU player New Orleans has drafted since 2018 and only the third Tiger taken in the last 21 years.
New Orleans spent their first round pick on Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson, then used a fourth round choice on North Dakota State receiver Bryce Lance. It surprised many that the Saints added a third at the position. However, Brown adds a different kind of value than the first two receivers selected. Here's what the LSU star brings from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.
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Barion Brown bio
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Position: Wide receiver
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College: LSU Tigers
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Height: 5-feet, 11 inches
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Weight: 177 pounds
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40-yard dash: 4.4 seconds
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10-yard split: 1.62 seconds
Strengths
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Sprinter speed and explosion
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Extremely elusive in the open field
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Good catch radius
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Adds value on jet sweeps
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Competitive on contested throws
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6 career touchdowns on kickoff returns
Weaknesses
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Size is a detriment against physical corners
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Lacks route precision
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Needs expand route tree for slot duties
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Must improve ball-tracking skills
Drafting a third receiver was likely not on anybody's bingo card for the Saints. Don't think that Brown isn't a viable option at wideout. He led Kentucky in receiving in 2022 and repeated that feat at LSU last season. He's also extremely dangerous on jet sweeps. Make no mistake though, Barion Brown was drafted because he is a potentially lethal threat as a returner.
Brown averaged nearly 30 yards per kickoff return in college, taking 6 back for touchdowns. After trading Rashid Shaheed midway through last season, the Saints lacked any kind of threat in the return game. Brown could develop into a deep threat or slot specialist with improved routes. His gateway to a roster spot, however, lies in his ability to give New Orleans a feared returner that gives them an added scoring threat and field position advantages.
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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: What the Saints are getting in Barion Brown: Fit and scouting report
