Los Angeles Chargers

San Diego Chargers have found a gem in LB Jatavis Brown

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Diego Chargers have found a gem in linebacker Jatavis Brown, a fifth round draft pick out of Akron who is earning more and more snaps…

If you haven’t done so already, you should familiarize yourself with San Diego Chargers linebacker Jatavis Brown.

So you didn’t watch much Akron football in 2016, but you want to see what Jatavis Brown is all about? https://t.co/EIerL10Akb

— San Diego Chargers (@Chargers) April 30, 2016

Brown was a fifth round pick in this past year’s draft out of Akron, and provided one of the most intriguing set of skills coming out of college that we have seen from a linebacker.

He stands only 5-11 and weighs 227 pounds, but this guy can fly to the football unlike most players at his position. He clocked a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, and that speed has translated to the NFL level of play.

What Brown was really good at in college was getting pressure on the quarterback from the off-ball linebacker position, and so far this season, analytics guys are loving the way he’s played. Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 88.0 against the Indianapolis Colts, a game in which he registered a sack, forced fumble, two STOPs, and a pair of pass breakups.

#Chargers rookie LB Jatavis Brown owns the highest pass-rushing grade of any off-ball linebacker this season. https://t.co/u3tNdWfZiS pic.twitter.com/hGbSmKBX3J

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 27, 2016

In his senior season at Akron in 2015, Brown racked up 15 sacks as an off-ball linebacker. That’s pretty unheard of, especially for a guy who only checks in at 5-11.

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He’s currently playing a sub-package role for the Chargers and has 15 tackles in three games, but with Manti Te’o’s recent injury, there could be an opening for Brown to get onto the field a lot more than he already has been. The Chargers obviously love his potential and feel like they got themselves a steal.

NFL.com had Brown graded as a third round pick, and the Chargers managed to get him at the 175th overall slot. That’s not a bad spot to take a risk on a guy that had 15 sacks in his senior season, not having played an edge defender position.

The Chargers have themselves a weapon, and the rest of the NFL had better take notice. This guy is legit.

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