Da'Ron Brown to Kansas City Chiefs: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

If you have followed the NFL at all since the end of last season, you've probably heard about a hundred times that the Kansas City Chiefs didn't have a single wide receiver catch a touchdown pass in 2014.

This is a statistic the Chiefs seem determined to prevent from occurring again.

Kansas City made one move during the offseason by replacing the departed Dwayne Bowe with former Philadelphia Eagles star Jeremy Maclin. On Friday, Day 2 of the 2015 NFL draft, the team again bolstered the receiver position by trading up in Round 3 for Georgia product Chris Conley.

The Chiefs addressed the position one final time, with their last pick (233rd overall) in the draft. The choice there was former Northern Illinois receiver Da'Ron Brown.

On the surface, Brown looks like little more than a safe gamble in the final round of the draft. He has adequate size for the position at 6'0" and 205 pounds, but he is not exceptionally strong or physical.

Brown also lacks top-level speed. He ran a disappointing 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. This was a disappointing development, as Brown was largely seen as a speedy deep-ball target during the predraft process.

Bleacher Report Lead NFL raft Analyst Matt Miller ranked Brown just 52nd overall in his predraft receiver rankings and wrote the following:

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Brown was billed as a speed receiver in the scouting community but ran a 4.54 second 40 in Indianapolis. He doesn’t look like a speed receiver and can’t carry defenders over the top. With a 6’0”, 205 pound frame he’s not a physical player and will get jammed at the line with ease. The ability to separate and consistently get open are major issues for Brown’s prospects due to a lack of athleticism and also because he wasn’t asked to run many routes at NIU. He’s raw with baseline athleticism, and most NFL teams would rather bet on a plus-athlete at this stage of the draft.

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The thing with Brown, though, is that he has a fair amount of production on his side. In 2014 alone, he produced 68 receptions for 1,065 yards with six touchdowns.

Brown clearly produced on the football field for a reason, even if his measurables don't suggest an NFL-quality receiver. The Chiefs obviously feel the same way, or they wouldn't have spent even a late pick on him.

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

With a wide catch radius, Brown is an easy target to throw to, and he catches the ball well. He is a solid-enough route-runner to gain separation from opposing defensive backs, and he is quick in and out of his breaks, even if his speed isn't great enough to make him a legitimate deep-threat.

For the Chiefs, Brown will likely come in and compete for a rotational spot. He could see some time as a fifth wideout and will likely be asked to serve a role on special teams.

Overall, it was a smart decision to add another receiver with the Chiefs' final pick, even if Brown doesn't wind up making the squad. If Brown can find a way to increase his quickness at the pro level and earn a permanent role, this will look like a very smart pick.