Often a spot-starter over his first three seasons with the team, Jaguars cornerback Montaric “Buster” Brown has seized a first-team role in Jacksonville’s defense as the 2024 regular season nears its close.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson confirmed Monday that Brown had succeeded veteran Ronald Darby to start at cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell moving forward, crediting Jacksonville’s 2022 seventh-round NFL draft pick for his development and performances when asked to step up.
Brown has started seven games this season, five while Campbell was on Jacksonville’s injured reserve in Weeks 2-6, and in the Jaguars’ last two matchups over a healthy Darby. Brown has logged 46 total tackles with five for loss, one interception and seven defended passes in 14 appearances total.
Despite his previous status as a backup, Brown frequently played in rotation with Campbell and Darby earlier this season. His 691 defensive snaps this year rank No. 5 on the team.
“A guy that’s worked hard, was kind of thrust into action and has really embraced it,” Pederson described Brown on Friday.
“He’s another one that, I think, elevated his game. But again, it just doesn’t happen. Buster works at it. He works at it hard in practice and he’s hard on himself. He’s coachable, and that’s what’s made him a really good player for us.”
Brown had previously started seven games with the Jaguars, largely while Campbell battled multiple injuries in 2023. He exceeded expectations as a former late-round draft pick, entering the campaign with 40 tackles and four pass breakups in 20 career games.
He has taken another step forward with further opportunities this season. Per Pro Football Focus, through Week 15, Brown’s 67.2% coverage completion rate, 10.5 yards per reception allowed and 96.5 passer rating against are all career bests, to pair with his increased box score production.
Brown’s coverage completion percentage drops to 65.2% in games he has started this year.
“I think he just is going to continue to learn, continue to grow, continue to get better. That’s a good sign for a young player,” Pederson added.
Pederson believes Brown’s emergence provides a “great example” for another young member of Jacksonville’s secondary, rookie cornerback De’Antre Prince, who also is slated for an uptick in defensive snaps after Darby’s benching.
Jacksonville’s fifth-round, No. 153 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft, Prince has appeared in eight games this season but with a larger snap share on special teams (11%) than defense (7%). He has recorded two tackles.
“I think it’s going to be great for him,” Pederson said of Prince. “Regardless of the number of snaps, hopefully, in the next couple of games, he gets quite a few, and it gives us an insight into the type of player and to who Tre is. He works obviously hard at practice, and it’s an opportunity to go play.
“It gives the player a lot of confidence if he can go out and play, play well and do some good things. For us too, it gives us, again, that insight to how can this player help us, in Tre’s case, in the future, and where can we use him on defense. These next few weeks, a lot of our young players, it’s just that — a great opportunity for them.”
