Jaguars' Dyami Brown in line for starting role

The 25-year-old had a notable uptick in usage late in the regular season and then totaled 229 yards and one touchdown on 14 catches during the playoffs. That showing did not do enough to land Brown a second contract in Washington, but he did take a deal with the Jaguars. That one-year pact has a base value of $10MM, $9.5MM of which is guaranteed in full.

$2MM in incentives are present in the contract along with per-game bonuses. Given the nature of Jacksonville’s investment, a No. 3 role in the team’s offense would come as no surprise. That is indeed set to take place in Brown’s case after the Jaguars traded away Christian Kirk and released Gabe Davis. Brown is positioned to work as a starter alongside 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist Brian Thomas Jr. and 2025 second overall pick Travis Hunter.

“You didn’t really see him work the intermediate that much [in Washington], and I think over the course of this spring, [quarterback] Trevor [Lawrence] and him have gained a little bit of a chemistry on some of those intermediate in-breakers, curls, maybe outcuts,” head coach Liam Coen said of Brown (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco).

“Part of the selling point to have him come here was, ‘Man, we really want to continue to diversify your route tree and have you do more. You’re not just a screen, jet sweep, vertical threat.'”

Drafted in the third round in 2021, Brown was one of several wideouts the Commanders added in the hopes of finding a long-term complement to Terry McLaurin. Brown and quarterback Sam Howell played together at North Carolina, but their one season in the NFL with the latter handling starting QB duties did not produce the desired connection. Neither Howell nor Brown are in the nation’s capital anymore, and the Commanders will rely on Deebo Samuel to serve as an experienced pass-catcher for at least one season.

The Jags, meanwhile, will have high expectations for Thomas after he posted 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Hunter remains on track to see time on both sides of the ball during his rookie campaign, and that will no doubt include a notable role at the WR spot. Brown will nevertheless aim to build off the momentum he generated late in the 2024 season. Doing so will set him up for a strong free agent market next spring.