One of the 14 undrafted free agents the Tennessee Titans signed after the 2023 NFL draft, Troy defensive lineman Shakel Brown will look to make his mark and secure a spot on the roster or practice squad this offseason.
There is plenty of precedent in Tennessee for cracking the roster as an undrafted free agent along the defensive line, as guys like Teair Tart and Naquan Jones have done so in recent years, with Tart emerging as a good starter for the Titans.
In 2022, Jayden Peevy was able to stick around on the practice squad all season before eventually getting a promotion to the active roster in late December.
Will Shakel Brown be the next Tart, Jones or even Peevy? We can’t say for sure but we can get a better idea about what to expect by rounding up the scouting reports available for the Troy product, which we have done below.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Overview
Athletic and instinctive, Brown offers inside/outside cornerback skill and experience, but his average size and speed might make the slot a more likely home. He plays the game like an angry hornet with a relentless, edgy play demeanor. Brown plays with ideal eye balance and field awareness that complements his short-area twitch and anticipatory skills to challenge throws. He has the strength, athleticism and football intelligence to play any coverage technique and often traveled with the opponent’s best wideout. He will eventually lose some ground deep and can be overtaken by big receivers. He’s often chippy against opposing receivers and loves to come downhill as a run defender. Brown plays with the competitive spirit and talent to leave an imprint on the game as a starting nickel with CB2 potential.
Strengths
Ability and experience to play in a variety of schemes and techniques.
Above-average strength for his size from press.
Mirrors release and maintains balance through press opening.
Elite instincts and true detective in space with seven interceptions in 26 games.
Stare-down passers find him flying into their passing lanes.
Trusts his technique with few wasted steps to the ball.
Bounces off the ground, increasing his size on 50-50 balls.
Stop-start quickness to phase altered route speed.
Low center of gravity with balance to change direction against comeback routes.
Maintains back-side discipline and is weary of trickery.
Edgy play demeanor and loves testing the toughness of opposing receivers.
Rushes downhill and can either wrap up or chop out the runner’s legs.
Weaknesses
Just a single season as full-time starter.
Quicker than fast.
Had issues with long speed when playing outside.
Was overtaken by big receivers down the field at times.
Has tendency to lose track of the ball and/or man with back to the throw.
Style could create some durability concerns.
Must learn to check his emotions on the field.
CBS Sports
Summary:
Shakel Brown had not had a big impact on college football coming into the year, but he committed himself and became a difference-maker for an ascending Troy team. He has great top-end speed, size and length. Conditioning needs to improve, and he is relatively unrefined. But he displays good quickness in his hands and feet to shed blocks and re-direct.
Strengths:
Great top-end speed
Good size and length
Good quickness in hands and feet to shed blocks and re-direct
Weaknesses:
Conditioning needs to improve
Relatively early in his development
Small sample size of playing history
Scouting reports for other Titans rookies
