Miami WR Sam Brown Jr. could be a versatile backup

Kansas City is meeting with an intriguing late-round pass-catcher.

According to Aaron Wilson of Houston’s KPRC, University of Miami wide receiver Sam Brown Jr. is scheduled to visit the Kansas City Chiefs this week.

Here’s what to know about him.

Background

In 2020, Brown committed to West Virginia as a four-star recruit out of Bloomingdale, Georgia. He had two uneventful seasons in Morgantown, totaling only 10 passes for 108 yards.

Brown found more success after transferring to Houston, where he topped out in 2023 with 62 passes for 815 yards and three touchdowns. Then he moved on to Miami for a single season in which he collected 36 passes for 509 yards and two touchdowns.

It’s worth noting that in 2024, Miami had five receivers exceed 30 catches and 500 receiving yards.

Brown participated in February’s East-West Shrine Bowl. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he checked in at 6 feet 2 and 200 pounds, demonstrating the size Kansas City has recently coveted in its wideouts. A 41.5-inch vertical jump — paired with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash that included quality splits at 10 and 20 yards — should put some eyes on him in the NFL Draft.

Film evaluation

Brown’s best moments make it obvious why the Chiefs are evaluating his fit for head coach Andy Reid’s offense. He runs decisively with the ball in his hands — and has developed some crafty moves during his long college football career.

This play starts with Brown appearing to run a perfectly acceptable short route that would probably gain five or six yards. But after coming to an almost complete stop, he takes off at full speed to find the most vulnerable spot in the secondary, taking a longer pass for a 50-yard score.

Over the last three seasons, Kansas City has relied on shorter passes (rather than long bombs), putting their receivers in the best positions to run after the catch. Brown can thrive under this approach.

NFL defensive backs will be better tacklers than those in the Louisville secondary who played against Miami last season, but Brown’s 53-yard catch-and-run against Texas while playing for Houston in 2023 shows consistent elusiveness — even against stronger competition.

We can expect Kansas City’s scouts to be familiar with these two examples of Brown being schemed into space.

While the Chiefs will still have Xavier Worthy — the NFL’s fastest man — the team will miss the speed that Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman brought to the wide receiver room. If the Chiefs want to avoid exposing Worthy to injury in gadget plays, Brown would be a good second option that will not require a big investment.

Brown also offers some value downfield.

This longer sideline throw from 2023 is reminiscent of situations where Patrick Mahomes sought Watson’s combination of size and speed. The Chiefs would likely prefer a taller speed option like Brown for their wide receiver depth.

Unfortunately, Brown also shares one of Watson’s drawbacks.

As we see here, Brown doesn’t reliably beat coverage on tighter throws. Like with Watson, his speed can sometimes be frustrating: he can put himself in position for a difficult catch that he doesn’t make.

Other issues might keep Brown from getting a legitimate NFL shot. One is that he didn’t record a punt or kick return over his five seasons. Experience (or ability) as a returner is one of the best ways a rookie speed receiver can stick on a roster. He doesn’t appear to be an enthusiastic blocker, either — although Miami’s offense didn’t ask him to do much of it.

In this clip — which also shows a continuing problem with getting off the line cleanly — Brown moves into a blocking role as he realizes how close the play is, but doesn’t take on the defender with the force NFL teams will expect. An aggressive officiating crew might also have chosen to throw a holding flag for his possible jersey grab.

Teams will also need to investigate a 2022 incident in which Brown was suspended for Houston’s bowl appearance after slapping a defender in the regular-season finale.

The bottom line

Assuming Kansas City plans for its passing game to revolve around Worthy and Rashee Rice for the next few seasons, Brown would be an intriguing backup. With his tackle-breaking ability and speed, he has elements from both players’ games — and could conceivably develop into an acceptable short-term replacement for either starter. Kansas City could also use him for the designed touches we have seen Hardman run since 2019.

It would not be surprising to see the Chiefs grab him with a seventh-round pick.

Sadly, NFL roster rules rarely allow teams to keep “just in case” players. To make it as a team’s fourth or fifth wideout, Brown will need a reason for a team to keep him around. While he looks like a player who will shine in the preseason against an opponent’s camp depth, what he can bring as a downfield blocker (or on special teams) will make or break his chances.

Still, this year’s rookies will start on even ground in the league’s dynamic kickoff formation — and with fewer touchbacks, they’ll get plenty of chances to make plays. In camp, Brown’s speed and elusiveness could make a team try him from the goal line.