Gladstone said Brown, who last month signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Jacksonville, will be a solid complement to alpha WR Brian Thomas in the Jaguars offense. “Somebody else that can go down the field so [Thomas] is not always having to be that guy on the top shelf,” Gladstone said when asked about acquiring Brown, who had his most productive stretch as a pro last December and January for the Commanders. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen described Brown as “somebody that’s able to attack the field at all three levels.” Brown, entering his age-26 season, should be the team’s No. 2 target behind Thomas now that Evan Engram is in Denver.

The deal is worth “up to” $12 million. Alrighty then. In a market where Tutu Atwell also received $10 million, this kind of deal can no longer be considered insane with a rising salary cap, but ... it’s kind of insane. A fantasy-hyped 2021 third-rounder, Brown had 29 career catches before snagging 30 balls last season. That does not include his 14 during the Commandos’ three-game playoff run. It was impressive, needed work for a target-desperate team, but Brown doesn’t exactly feel like an ascendant player going on age 26. The Jags’ hope is that he’s now a reliable role player, one who along with Gabe Davis can help clear space for Brian Thomas Jr. Although Jacksonville has a thin skill corps, we would not count on Brown being 2025 re-draft relevant.

A quiet box score made worse by Brown’s lost fumble on the Commanders’ second series. It set the Eagles up at mid-field. In the final year of his rookie contract, forgotten former third-rounder Brown more than doubled his previous career best for receptions by snagging 30 balls. That does not include his (11 insert) during the Commanders’ three-game playoff run. It wasn’t really enough to suggest a full-fledged breakout is on the horizon for 2025, but the 25-year-old may have earned himself some guaranteed money in free agency. That, or a pre-open market extension from the Commanders, who have extremely shaky receiver depth behind No. 1 Terry McLaurin. Brown is still best left on the waiver wire in Dynasty leagues.

Brown stepped up in a big way in the Wild Card Round, catching five balls for 89 yards and a score. That was a career-high in catches and a second-best mark in yards for him. The encore versus Detroit was even better. Brown came down with a missile from Jayden Daniels despite Lions defender Kerby Joseph covering Brown’s eyes as the ball approached his hands. With Olamide Zaccheaus a bit banged up, Brown appears to be the Commanders’ No. 2 receiver heading into the NFC Championship, making him an interesting stacking partner with Daniels.