Of the New Orleans Saints’ rookie class, the one player that’s in prime position to have the first major impact is former LSU wide receiver and sixth-round draft pick Barion Brown.
But it won’t be because of his abilities on offense, but instead on special teams. Brown is an elite return ace who served as a real threat in the collegiate ranks to take a return to the house every chance he was given.
While with Kentucky and LSU, the speedy return specialist brought back six kick returns for a touchdown. He was just one shy of the NCAA record. Each of his returns went for 99 or more yards and he showed an ability to work through traffic, find the right lane and accelerate past would-be tacklers.
His immediate impact is most likely to come as a returner. But he’ll get his chances as a pass-catcher as well.
“He’s a receiver as well,” head coach Kellen Moore said of Brown. “I think that’s the important asset that we view this as is we’re onboarding a guy who’s a returner and a receiver. It’s not going to be just a returner and nothing else.”
But make no mistake about it. Brown and his six career kick return touchdowns making their way to New Orleans one season after the team traded away key return weapon and deep threat Rashid Shaheed is no coincidence. The Saints know that the special teams unit needs an influx of talent from a variety of areas, returner included.
They may have landed their next exciting returner to fill one of those gaps by keeping Brown in Louisiana.
