Jaron Brown Could Be Seattle Seahawks' Breakout Receiver In 2019

Not too long ago, we wrote here about the big hole in the Seattle offense that the retiring Doug Baldwin left for 2019. He will go down as the second-best receiver in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Steve Largent, and quarterback Russell Wilson has never not had Baldwin around (not including injuries) since Wilson was drafted.

Tyler Lockett enters 2019 as Wilson's clear No. 1 guy, but who will be the guy Lockett was to Baldwin last year? Early reports out of Seattle's mandatory minicamp this week are that it could well be seventh-year player Jaron Brown. Lockett and Brown are the Seahawks' only receivers with more than three seasons of NFL experience.

That may surprise some because Brown – and undrafted free agent like Baldwin was -- spent his first six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and his best year was 2017 when he had 31 catches for 477 yards and four scores. Last year in Seattle, he had just 19 catches for 166 yards but five of those were touchdowns.

Coach Pete Carroll is already on record saying Brown could have a larger role this year and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Brown is having an "unbelievable" offseason. Brown has been working with the first-team offense ahead of rookies D.K. Metcalf and Gary Jennings, but those rookies don't really know the offense yet.

Even if Brown does beat out Metcalf for the No. 2 spot – and we're doubting that – it may be that no receiver in that offense puts up huge numbers. That's because Schottenheimer has said the offense will remain run heavy in 2019. The Seahawks were the only team in the league to run more than they passed last season. No receiver reached 60 catches or 1,000 yards.

Seattle opens the season at home vs. Cincinnati with the Seahawks as early 8-point favorites on the NFL odds.