After a trade with the Houston Texans, the Eagles drafted OL Tyler Steen with the 65th overall pick and safety Sydney Brown with the 66th overall selection.
Back. To. Back.@Sydbrown___ | #NFLDraft | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/WF0Mm8Wpjv
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 29, 2023
A Swiss army knife at safety, Brown earned First-Team All-Big Ten playing a hybrid role.
The versatile safety racked up 320 tackles, 16 pass breakups, ten interceptions (including six in 2022), four forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns in his five years of college.
At the NFL scouting combine Brown would run a 4.47 40-yard dash (4th among safeties) and a 1.51 10-yard split (3rd among safeties).
Brown started 50 games for the Illini, and his brother, Chase, is also a star running back in this draft class.
With the pick complete, here’s an instant analysis.
Brown will be an Eagle for a long time
Brown fits the Brandon Graham, and Jalen Hurts mold of team building and high character.
Sydney Brown was a "red star" player for the Eagles — someone who "exemplifies" what it means to be an Eagle. It's based on character, team captain, testing numbers, intelligence, practice/playing style. Every scout stamps their red star on a player during Wednesday meeting.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) April 29, 2023
Brown is a more solid version of C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Brown is a versatile Swiss Army Knife who’ll play the game with more discipline than Gardner-Johnson.
Sydney Brown had the fourth-best coverage grade out of 782 safeties in the NCAAF graded on PFF.
Sticky coverage on the 34th pick Sam LaPorta here. pic.twitter.com/AuxJtaRzBv
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) April 29, 2023
Brown is a team guy
Philadelphia added even more character around Jalen Carter on the defensive side of the football.
Brown and Nolan Smith could one day both be captains.
Leader. Fearless. Freakish. Alpha.
The @Eagles are getting a team guy in @Sydbrown___#Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy // #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/DKyAEmglqR
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) April 29, 2023
Brown is athletic
The Swiss Army Knife is athletic and will play in multiple positions.
RD 3 | PK 66 – Eagles: Sydney Brown S, Illinois
Brown earned the highest athleticism score (89) among safeties in this year's draft class. His 10-foot-10 broad jump, 40 1/2-inch vertical and 23 bench reps all rank in the top 10% of safeties since 2003. pic.twitter.com/ius41qnZ36
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 29, 2023
Brown can play in the box, at deep safety, and in the slot.
Sydney Brown: #Eagles pic.twitter.com/nC4To9aUQt
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) April 29, 2023
