Jacksonville Jaguars select Arkansas cornerback Montaric Brown in 2022 NFL Draft

On3 imageby:Wade Peery04/30/22
On3 image
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Montaric Brown out of Arkansas with the No. 222 overall selection in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In his final season, he started all 13 games for the Razorbacks and led the SEC in interceptions (five). Brown was named first team All-SEC. His five interceptions were the most by a Razorback player since Tramain Thomas in the 2011 season. Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 70.9 during his redshirt senior season–the best mark among Arkansas’ defensive backs. Brown had a great game against Texas A&M this year, racking up six tackles and snatching his second interception of the season.

According to the On3 Consensus Rankings for the 2017 recruiting class, Brown was rated as the No. 19 defensive back in America and he was also rated as a four-star prospect. A highly touted prospect, Brown also suited up in the U.S. Army All-American game. His senior year at Ashdown (Ashdown, Arkansas), he posted big-time numbers as you might expect–racking up 110 tackles and snatching seven interceptions. When he chose Arkansas coming out of high school, he chose them over Auburn, Alabama, LSU, and many others.

NFL Draft expert Lance Zirlein’s thoughts on Montaric Brown

NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zirlein gave his thoughts on Brown. “Projects as an instinctive zone corner with good strength but a lack of desired top-end speed. Brown has a nose for short and intermediate pattern breaks and plays with outstanding body control. He also has soft hands to take the ball away when he’s in position. He’s going to struggle to handle vertical speed and shifty route runners, so a zone-based coverage scheme is more likely to suit him as a pro. He’s a willing run supporter whose ball skills and instincts might get him a look at safety if he can carry enough weight.”