2017 NFL Draft: Blair Brown drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars

The MAC marches on at the 2017 NFL Draft as Ohio’s Blair Brown was selected in the fifth round with the 148th overall selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brown becomes the second Bobcat selected and the seventh MAC alum selected in this year’s NFL Draft.

Jacksonville, Brown’s new home, finished last season at 3-13. Their defense gave up 400 points and ranked 25th in the league, and their leading sacker among linebackers (Paul Posluszny) had only 1.5 sacks for the entire season. Jacksonville desperately needs playmakers on defense, and Brown fits that bill.

Brown leaves Athens as an All-MAC selection this year, with an immense nose for the ball and the opposing QB. He was a terror on opposing offenses in the MAC, and racked up 4.5 sacks, 15 TFL, and 128 total tackles. Brown is incredibly instinctual and that makes up for a significant lack of “prototype” measurable traits. Brown is a bit undersized for a linebacker and has the potential to get swallowed up by bigger offensive linemen. Regardless, the results speak for themselves and Brown has the raw football instincts to be a player of note on Sundays.

Brown joins a Jaguars draft class that includes running back Leonard Fournette (fourth overall), offensive tackle Cam Robinson (34th) and wide receiver Dede Westbrook (110th). The Jaguars have two remaining selections at 222 (seventh round) and 240 (seventh round).

Find out all you can about his new home at Big Cat Country.