Texas Football: Chris Brown still a tremendous value UDFA option

Post-NFL Draft, most of the former Texas football players in this class have found their home at the next level. That is except for one. Texas had three players in this class go undrafted. And two of them have already found landing spots at the next level.

The two former Longhorns that did find homes in the NFL already as undrafted free agent signings are wide receivers Brennan Eagles (Dallas Cowboys) and Tarik Black (Indianapolis Colts). The one former Longhorn still looking to find a home at the next level is the senior safety Chris Brown. Potentially anticipated to fall off the board as a sixth or seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft, it is surprising that Brown remains available at this point in time.

There are much less potent and proven defensive backs that were picked up already by various NFL teams, at least compared to what Brown brings to the table. He could be a solid find for a team needing to explore all routes to add safety depth to their roster this offseason.

The safety position is also one that the Longhorns have contributed a lot of talent to at the next level. There were some great value finds that various NFL teams got in the past few years out of under drafted former Texas safeties. That list includes the likes of DeShon Elliott of the Baltimore Ravens, P.J. Locke III of the Denver Broncos, and Brandon Jones of the Miami Dolphins.

One other former Longhorns safety was picked up in this draft class, with the Broncos selecting Caden Sterns 152nd overall in the fifth round.

Value that former Texas football S Chris Brown offers in the NFL

Brown is a former underrated three-star recruit that continuously proved himself during his four years on the Forty Acres. His best season of his college career came last fall. But he was solid in an underrated role for the Longhorns secondary in each of the past two seasons.

Last season, Brown registered 46 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, no sacks, one interception, a whopping seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. That gave the 5-foot-11 and 190 pound defensive back 107 career combined tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

Brown was one of the higher-graded defensive backs in pass coverage for the Longhorns over the course of the last two seasons. And he tended to not get as much appreciation as he deserved during his last two years on the Forty Acres.

Before we get too much deeper into the NFL offseason, Brown should get his shot with one team. He’s too good to not at least get a Rookie Camp invite to try and further prove himself at the next level this year.

Texas wound up having five former players selected in the 2021 draft. The first taken off the board was offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi, 51st overall in the second round by the Washington Football Team.