Jatavis Brown, Linebacker

The middle linebacker is often considered the quarterback of the defense. A good middle linebacker could turn an average defense into a good one and a good defense into an elite one. Right now, Jatavis Brown is the starting middle linebacker for Philadelphia.

Brown had an up and down career with the Chargers, After three promising years, he found himself on the bench for a majority of last season. It’s clear he has the athleticism and instincts to play at a high-level in the NFL, especially when accounting for his ability to recognize plays.

While Brown is a bit smaller for an ideal middle linebacker, he doesn’t shy away from contact. There are a few highlights of him making excellent run stuffs and laying big hits on players coming across the middle. Given the opportunity, this could be a big year for him.

Although it could be a great year for Brown, there is a possibility he will disappoint. Brown is an undersized backer. Although the Eagles’ defensive tackles will help stuff runs, when lineman get to the second level it will be tough for Brown to shed those blocks.

There are a few areas where Brown must prove himself in 2020. He must prove he can lead a defense. While he was on the Chargers he shared that responsibility with Denzel Perryman. It also doesn’t help that he’s not quite as good in pass coverage as one might like for his size. While Brown could be in for a big year, there is still a very real chance that he struggles.