Tag: Chase Brown

Eagles 2023 training camp preview: A look at the running backs

We’re previewing the Philadelphia Eagles running back position ahead of the teams 2023 training camp

The Eagles’ 2023 NFL offseason is almost complete, and as Howie Roseman retools a roster that’ll look entirely different on defense, we’re previewing the running back position.

Philadelphia signed former Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny to replace Miles Sanders, and the hope was that he could help decrease some of Hurts’ designed runs.

They added more explosiveness at the position, trading for former Lions running back D’Andre Swift.

With the first week of OTAs now complete, we’re following up on the quarterback’s preview by focusing on the ball carriers.

Bengals rookie Chase Brown invited to NFL Players Rookie Premiere

A special honor for Bengals rookie Chase Brown.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Chase Brown is the lone member of his team’s draft class invited to the NFL Players Rookie Premiere.

Brown, expected to compete with Trayveon Williams for the right to rotate with starter Joe Mixon next season, was one of 45 rookies across the NFL invited to the event.

The event, put on by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and its NFL Players Inc. division, is in year No. 27 and is often viewed as a major but of exposure for some of the NFL’s biggest names.

The NFLPA’s website explains:

NFLPA Rookie Premiere provides partners with unmatched access to 40 of the NFL’s newest stars at their first major business and marketing event following the NFL Draft. This is one of the most valuable opportunities available to NFLPA partners because it’s the first time to connect directly with professional football’s most promising and marketable young players–all in one place—and build content and relationships that extend into the season and beyond.

Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase was one of the team’s rookies invited in recent years.

A full look at all of the rookies invited to the event:

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Chase Brown a possible Day 3 surprise breakout for Bengals

Do the Bengals have a sleeper hit with Chase Brown?

The Cincinnati Bengals might have a sleeper hit on their hands with fifth-round pick Chase Brown.

The running back out of Illinois, with 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns on a 5.0 average to his name last season, has a shot at the role left vacant by Samaje Perine, if not an opportunity for more.

And The Athletic’s Dane Brugler is one expert thinking Brown could do big things quicker than expected:

One of the best value fits of the entire draft, Brown is an explosive one-cut runner with the vision and determination to get on the field quickly. His ability in the passing game will help fill the void left by Samaje Perine. We thought the Bengals might go running back earlier than this, but it’s hard to argue with the value here.

It’s hard to argue — one of the strengths of Brown noted by Bengals coaches is that he should be a reliable receiver and pass blocker. He’s got some between-the-tackles ability too, which seems to be where the run game continues to head.

Let’s not forget this awesome stat from PFF:

The shelf life for Brown could be a problem given he had 600-plus carries in college. But the immediate impact he could provide would be rare for a Day 3 pick — and exactly what the team needs.

Zac Taylor has already reaffirmed the status of Joe Mixon as the starter, but one look at the breakdown of Brown and his wild highlight reel suggests he could shoulder his way into notable work starting in Week 1.

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WATCH: Highlights of Bengals’ Chase Brown in college

New Bengals RB Chase Brown ran for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns last year — he’s got some must-see highlights.

Like Charlie Jones in the fourth round before him, Cincinnati Bengals fifth-round pick Chase Brown has some epic highlight reels for fans to enjoy.

Naturally, considering Brown drummed up 600-plus carries in college, his most recent season landing on 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns on a 5.0 average.

An accomplished receiver and pass-blocker as well, it’s no wonder the Bengals tabbed the fifth round as the right time to find a complement to Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine replacement.

A very good pick for the Bengals given the need for Brown’s skillset in the backfield, here’s a look at some of his best highlights so far:

 

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Best reactions after Bengals draft Chase Brown in fifth round

The best reactions after the Bengals made their pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals have finally answered at least one part of the question at the running back position by taking Illinois’ Chase Brown in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Brown, owner of 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns on a 5.0 average last year, looks like the team’s answer to losing Samaje Perine unexpectedly in free agency.

The Fighting Illini standout was the second offensive player in a row picked by the Bengals on Day 3 of the draft. Like Purdue wideout Charlie Jones, Brown could have an immediate impact even before earning the right to fight for a full-time role in 2024.

Here’s a look at the reaction to the pick.

Bengals select RB Chase Brown in fifth round

The Bengals have made their pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals used their fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Illinois running back Chase Brown.

Brown ran for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while averaging five yards per carry and also caught 27 passes for 240 yards and three more scores.

A versatile, 5’11”, 205-pound threat, Brown is the obvious running back the Bengals wanted to take while they seek out a Samaje Perine replacement and rotational player alongside Joe Mixon.

After taking three defenders over the first two days of the draft, the Bengals started Day 3 by taking Purdue wideout Charlie Jones in the fourth round.

Brown makes it two offensive picks in a row and two guys who can help right away.

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Top remaining players on Packers big board entering Day 2

Who are the best players and fits for the Packers entering the second round? Here’s our list.

After selecting Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick the Green Bay Packers start day two of the NFL Draft in need of playmakers for Jordan Love. Luckily for Brian Gutekunst, there are still plenty of talented pass catchers, particularly at tight end on the board. 

“The board held up strong,” Gutekunst said. “I feel good about going into tomorrow.”

The Packers start the day off with the 42nd, 45th, and 78th overall picks. Let’s take a quick glimpse at the top players on my Packers Big Board. 

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Mayer has sticky hands that catch everything thrown his way. The Packers need to set their young quarterback up for success and adding a complete tight end like Mayer seems like a no-brainer.

Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

Versatile, tough as nails, excellent in coverage, and only 21 years old. Branch would be a great addition to Green Bay’s defense and would be an instant contributor for Joe Barry’s squad. 

Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State

Whoa, impressive wingspan. Porter Jr is a long cornerback. The Penn State cornerback has 34-inch arms and an 80 ⅞ wingspan. 

Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

Traits. Bet on the traits. Ringo is an athletic freak. A former track athlete, Ringo clocked a 4.36 40. The Packers can’t go through the NFL Draft without drafting a Georgia Bulldog defensive player. Right? 

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Washington is a monster. At 6-6, 264 pounds, Washington is an imposing figure on the gridiron. He’s a people mover with his power. Washington was a high-school wide receiver and has natural pass-catching abilities. He has strong, reliable hands.

Keion White, DL, Georgia Tech

White has a unique blend of size and speed. He’s a twitched-up defensive lineman. He has a lot of power in his 6-5 frame and good length (34-inch arms).

Cody Mauch, OL, NDSU

A former tight end, Mauch is an athletic and versatile offensive lineman. He finished his career at Fargo as a 39-game starter with 37 starts coming at left tackle and two at right tackle. He has five position versatility.

Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

To quote Lightning McQueen, Hyatt is speed. He’s faster than fast. He’s quicker than quick. He’s lightning. This past season, Hyatt led the Nation with 11 receptions of 40-plus yards. The former four-star recruit also had five receptions of 60-plus yards. The Volunteer wide receiver just has a different gear.

Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State

Standing at 6-2, with 34-inch arms, his length goes on for days. With his length, he chokes passing windows and gives the quarterback a small window to throw into. 

Tucker Kraft, TE, SDSU

Kraft is a complete tight end. He’s a natural pass catcher and in SDSU’s run-first offense, Kraft is an exceptional blocker. He lined up in-line and in the slot while he was in Brookings. At 6-4, 254 pounds, Kraft looks every bit the part of an NFL tight end. 

Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

LaPorta is a difference-maker as a pass-catcher. LaPorta is a well-rounded tight end. He’s a moveable tight end that could line up in the slot, in-line, or even out wide. He could step in immediately and provide an impact as a security blanket for Jordan Love.

Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida

There is no denying the tools. The Gator defensive tackle has the length, power, and athleticism to develop into a dominant force along the defensive line. 

Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

If Musgrave is still on the board when the Packers are on the clock in the second round, it would not be surprising to see Gutekunst pull the trigger on the 6-5, 253-pound tight end with 4.61 speed. 

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern

At 6-1, 282 pounds, Adebawore may be viewed as a tweener. The “undersized defensive lineman plays with a junkyard dog mentality and his motor is always running.

Keeanu Benton, DL, Wisconsin

Benton’s calling card is his ability to two-gap. He’s a stout run defender that can clog up running lanes. He’s got a powerful frame with long arms to stack blocks. His motor is always running and gives great effort. 

Rashee Rice, WR, SMU

Rice’s trump card is his ability to turn 50-50 balls into 80-20 balls. His tape is littered with leaping grabs over defensive backs. On top of that, Rice is a YAC threat and an eager blocker. 

Matthew Bergeron, OL, Syracuse

Bergeron finished his career at Syracuse with 39 career starts under his belt. He started eight games at right tackle and 31 games at left tackle. The Syracuse offensive tackle has all the tools to develop into a team’s left or right tackle. Some teams may kick him inside to guard.

Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati

A track athlete in high school, Scott’s calling card is his speed. The Cincinnati wide receiver has an instant accelerator and track-like speed to win vertically. 

Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M

With his size, versatility, and the energy that he plays with, Johnson could be an attractive day-two target for the Packers as they search for upgrades at the safety position. 

Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane

Spears’ trump card is his ability to make people miss and create yards after contact. He’s elusive in the open and stays balanced through contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Spears had 1,052 yards after contact this past season and forced 63 missed tackles. 

Chase Brown, RB, Illinois

Brown is an outstanding athlete. It’s a big reason why he made an appearance on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list. The Illinois running back put on a show at the combine. Brown clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash with a 1.53 10-yard split. Brown’s marks in the vertical (40) and broad jump (10-7) were both the highest among running backs.

Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee

At 6-3, 213 pounds, Tillman is a well-built wide receiver. He looks great off the bus. He uses his frame well, outmuscling defensive backs at the catch point. He has impressive body control, with the ability to make catches through contact. 

Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas

Johnson is a complete back that could have transferred to another team to be the lead dog. Instead, Johnson played second fiddle to Bijan Robinson and was more than willing to do the dirty work. Johnson is a pound the table for type prospects.

Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

Palmer, a former track athlete, won a state title in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. He set a Louisiana state meet record in the 200 with a time of 21.11. That speed was on full display at the NFL Scouting Combine when Palmer clocked a 4.33 40-yard time, which was the fastest time among wide receivers. Palmer has a different gear. 

Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

The Ole Miss wide receiver has an excellent blend of size (6-1, 220 lbs) strength, and quickness. That combination makes him dangerous in space. He’s a contested catch connoisseur and outmuscles defensive backs at the catch point. With his size and strength, Mingo’s ability as a blocker will get Matt LaFleur’s attention. 

Commanders host underrated Illinois RB Chase Brown for pre-draft visit

The Commanders continue to evaluate running backs.

The Washington Commanders continue to evaluate running back ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. In addition to showing interest in Tulane running back Tyjae Spears and hosting Ole Miss’ Zach Evans for a visit, Washington also met with Illinois running back Chase Brown.

Brown is the third Illinois player to visit with the Commanders recently, joining defensive backs Devon Witherspoon and Jartavius Martin.

Brown rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons in the rugged Big Ten conference. As a senior in 2022, Brown carried the football 328 times for 1,643 yards, an average of 5.0 yards per attempt. Brown scored 10 rushing touchdowns and also had three touchdown receptions. The 5-foot-9 1/2, 209-pound Brown is a native of Ontario.

In addition to his outstanding college production, Brown opened eyes at the 2023 NFL combine by running the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds.

Brown began his college career at Western Michigan before transferring after his freshman season to Illinois to play alongside his twin brother Sydney. Sydney Brown is a legitimate second-round prospect in the upcoming draft. Chase Brown could go as high as the third round, though the fourth round feels the most plausible.

Perfect mid/late-round RB fits for the Eagles in 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at the perfect mid/late-round running back fits for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft

The Eagles will look somewhat different at running back in 2023, with Rashaad Penny replacing former Penn State star Miles Sanders.

Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon give Philadelphia the potential for a solid committee of rushers. However, could Howie Roseman look to find the perfect fit during this month’s draft?

The Eagles have eyes for Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs, but we have the perfect fits if GM Howie Roseman decides to move in the mid to late rounds.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 28, Illinois RB Chase Brown

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Illinois running back Chase Brown.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.

With Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon in place, the Green Bay Packers have their one-two punch at running back. Now, Brian Gutekunst needs to add a third back to the mix. 

A player that Green Bay’s general manager could target in the 2023 NFL Draft is Chase Brown. The Illinois running back checks in at No. 28 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.

A three-star recruit, Brown started his collegiate career at Western Michigan before transferring to Illinois for the 2019 season. In 2020, Brown rushed for 540 yards and three touchdowns. The following season, Brown rushed for 1,005 yards and five touchdowns. This past season, Brown rushed for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 27 receptions for 240 yards and three touchdowns.

“Chase Brown put himself in elite company in Illinois football history,” Jeremy Werner, the publisher of IlliniInquirer.com said. “His 1,643 rushing yards rank No. 3 all-time for Illinois behind two players who were drafted in the top two rounds of the NFL Draft: Mikel LeShoure (1,697 yards) and Rashard Mendenhall (1,681 yards). Brown did it in one fewer game than Leshoure and Mendenhall because he sat out the ReliaQuest Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft.”

Brown opened the season with nine straight 100-yard rushing performances. Against Michigan’s Top 10 run defense, Brown rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

“The Illini offense relied heavily on Brown, and he carried the load extremely well, rushing for 100+ yards in 10 of 12 games and he rushed for 98 in one of them,” Werner said. “His 140-yard performance against Michigan may have been the most impressive of the season against an elite defense that knew he was getting the ball.”

Brown is an outstanding athlete. It’s a big reason why he made an appearance on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list. The Illinois running back put on a show at the combine. Brown clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash with a 1.53 10-yard split. Brown’s marks in the vertical (40) and broad jump (10-7) were both the highest among running backs.

That athleticism was easy to spot on the football field. Brown’s a home run hitter that ripped off chunk plays at a high clip. According to Pro Football Focus, Brown had 23 runs of 15-plus yards this past season and 48 runs of 10-plus yards. When he gets out in space, not many defenders are going to catch him in the open field.

“Brown’s acceleration stands out the most,” Werner said. “We’ll see what he runs at the combine in the 40-yard dash, but his play speed in the Big Ten was top-notch. He had 23 runs of 15-plus yards and consistently beat opponents to the edge. He can change directions without slowing down much, and he has the speed to break away from defenders in the Big Ten.”

Brown has good vision, with great feel for the hole and he bursts through the opening. He has lightning-quick feet and he’s a smooth runner. He’s able to make lateral cuts without throttling down. 

Brown has good contact balance with the lower body strength to run through arm tackles. With his explosiveness, he’s able to destroy pursuit angles. According to PFF, Brown forced 83 missed tackles and 935 yards after contact. 

“While he’s only 205 pounds, Brown is ripped up and very strong and rarely goes down on first contact,” Werner said. “He fights through tackles and always looks to gain extra yards. He’s not a power back in between the tackles or the goal line, but in the open field, Brown is tough to bring down because of his strength. That’s mostly a credit to his work ethic. Brown has a leaner build but is really dedicated to his diet and workouts, and he has really maximized his physical potential.”

Brown showcased his ability as a receiver this past season, hauling in 27 receptions for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He has soft, reliable hands and had just one drop this past season. He’s alert and willing in pass protection. 

“The passing game was an area Brown needed to really improve in 2022, and he showed great signs,” Werner said. “He was one of the Illini’s more dangerous receiving options, and just like on stretch runs when he gets to the second level, he can make plays in space. Brown only had one drop all season. I actually think Brown will be used more as a receiver in the NFL than he was in college because he most likely projects as a change-of-pace back to begin his career. Brown improved as a pass blocker this season, but I still think it’s an area he must improve. Again, he’s a bit smaller mass-wise, but he’s a very willing and physical blocker and was more consistent with it this season.”

Fit with the Packers

If Brown were to land in Green Bay his impact during his rookie season would likely be minimal. Barring an injury, Brown would see limited touches playing behind Jones and Dillon. 

During Dillon’s rookie season, he carried the ball 42 times, as he sat behind Jones and Jamaal Williams. That number jumped up to 187 rushes during his second year in the league. 

It’s reasonable to expect that if the Packers take a running back in the 2023 NFL Draft that they’d follow the same flight plan.

Brown checks all the boxes. He’s an explosive playmaker, with good vision and has showcased his ability to be a reliable target in the passing game. On top of that, he brings some special teams value as a kick returner (17 career kick return attempts). 

“I think Brown will be a very good mid-round pick for someone who needs to add speed to the backfield,” Werner said. “He would pair nicely with a more powerful back, and while he likely is more of a change-of-pace back to start his career, Brown has the experience as a workhorse from his Illinois days. Another area Brown brings value is special teams. He played special teams most of his career and has some returner experience.  But I cannot rave more about Brown’s work ethic and drive. He was one of the hardest workers and most respected players at Illinois, so he checks all the boxes for his character on top of his talent.”

Jones will turn 29 in December. Dillon is entering the final year of his rookie contract. If Brown were to land in Green Bay he’d likely not see many touches during his rookie season, but there is a strong possibility that he could be the starting running back for the Packers in 2024.