Gang Green Nation
The Jets recently acquired cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Today we break Brownlee down in detail.
The 24-year old Brownlee is listed at 5’10” and 194 pounds and was a fifth round pick out of Louisville last April. Brownlee started 14 games in his rookie season and the first two of this year, but was acquired by the Jets in exchange for a day three pick swap last week.
Background
Brownlee was a three-star high school recruit who enrolled at Florida State in 2019. He redshirted his first year, although he did play four games and registered one tackle.
In 2020, he started four of eight games and had the first interception of his career, along with 26 tackles. Then his role increased in 2021 and he started 11 of 12 games, racking up 51 tackles and two picks, one of which he returned for a 70-yard touchdown.
After the 2021 season, he transferred to Louisville where he started all 13 games and had career-highs in tackles (66) and pass breakups (12), along with two interceptions.
In 2022, he was named honorable mention all-ACC despite missing three games due to injury. He started 11 and had 30 tackles, six pass breakups and an interception.
After missing his combine workout due to injury, Brownlee’s pro day workout was underwhelming and questions over his size and attitude were ultimately cited as the reasons why he ended up falling to the fifth round after some analysts had viewed him as a day two talent. The Titans selected him with the 146th overall pick.
As a rookie, Brownlee started off in a rotational role but made his first NFL start in week four and remained as a starter for the rest of the season. He was among the NFL rookie leaders with 75 tackles and nine pass breakups, adding one interception.
He began 2025 as a starter as well but missed the third game of the season due to injury and was then traded to the Jets. He was inactive for Monday night’s game with the same injury but is apparently “week to week” so he should be in the line-up soon.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Brownlee brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Brownlee’s size and length are average at best, but he has good strength, having worked hard at that aspect of his game between 2022 and 2023.
His pro day numbers were disappointing as he only ran 4.54 in the 40-yard dash and posted below average explosiveness numbers and mediocre agility numbers.
Usage
Brownlee has experience of playing both in the slot and outside. Although some analysts felt his lack of size would make him a better fit in the slot, he’s mostly played outside at the NFL level. However, he did play full time in the slot in two games last year, so he has done it at this level. Within...
