Photo by Mark Selders - Penn State Athletics

Height	Weight	Arm Length	Hand Size
5'11"	203 lbs.	31 1/4"	10 1/4"

40 Yard Dash	Bench Press	Vertical Jump	Broad Jump	3-Cone Drill	20 Yard Shuttle
4.65 Sec	18 Reps	32.5"	9'11"	N/A	N/A

Games	Tackles	Tackles for Loss	Sacks	Pass defended	Interceptions	Forced Fumbles	Touchdowns
32	153	9.0	4.5	9	10	3	2

Pros

• Thick muscular build for the position should help his longevity.

• Phenomenal power in frame.

• Highly productive college safety in every stat line.

 

• Has a need to make plays which often changed the course of games.

 

• Best ball skills at the position with soft hands that make catching interceptions look easy.

• Long arms for the position help bat away passes at a distance.

• When sees the football he explodes out stance with rare game-time speed to make play. 

• Zone coverage skills are among the best in the draft with excellent reactivity to quarterback passes.

• Very good route-recognition early in play to times his jumps accurately.

• Attacks passes hard and fast when sees an opportunity to come away with the football.

• Reads quarterbacks eyes consistently and moves well in zone to diagnose target.

• Can play solid press coverage due powerful build and intensity.

• Does get pushed out position by tight ends in coverage or in the run game.

• Same level of intensity as tackler as he is when making interceptions and will absolutely smack runners backwards.

• Arm length helps him wrap up ball carriers quickly.
• Head-on tackler that can stuff bigger ball carriers due to powerful frame.

• Need to make plays has given him phenomenal instincts to punch out football when tackling with good success rate.

• Phenomenal blitzer that lived at the line scrimmage at times Penn State.

• Attacks offensive lineman with great power and nastiness which can allow him to muscle his way into backfield.

• Takes on blocks very well and has even stalled offensive lineman attacking him.

• Pass rush potential as a blitzer is very high with good evasive maneuvers when taking on lineman.

• Weaves through trenches with efficiency and is often the first player in the backfield.

• Relentless motor that lasts all four quarters.

​

• Tough as cast-iron.

• Phenomenal leadership capabilities. 

Cons

• Risk-reward safety on the field that takes big chances in coverage to make plays.

• Too reactionary to quarterback misdirection.

 

• Too much freelance at times on the field in order to make plays.

 

• Undisciplined at times in coverage due need to make a play, leading to potential blown assignments.

 

• Can at times go for the hit rather than tackle.

 

• Average lateral agility and quickness make him liability in the open field as a tackler.

 

• Top end speed is lacking to play single high.

 

• Tackling angles are suspect at times.

 

• Could get mismatched against slot receivers in man coverage.

​

• Bigger receivers and tight ends may give him problems in the red zone.

​

• Reliable coverage from fellow cornerbacks helped make up for mistakes and allow him to roam and may require same thing in NFL to replicate production

Overview

Teams with solid defenses looking for a player that has knack for making plays should have Ji'Ayir Brown high on their big board come draft day. He's always looking to cash in big when he has a chance to and a lot of times when pulled the lever either on a pass or a tackle, he hit the jackpot for his team. He plays football at 100 MPH and his energy on the field was contagious among his teammates and is big reason why Penn States defense has been menacing in coverage. However, his all or nothing style of play has lead to some errors of discipline in coverage and as a tackler and he certainly has had a number of whiffs in coverage and his average athleticism in his lower half can work against him when trying to be a teams last line of defense. What has impressed many scouts is his accountability when he makes a mistake and how he responds and by all accounts Brown is a leader on and off the field and will mesh well in any locker room.. I don't think he hears his name called in Day 1 but early Day 2 I doubt he waits long and if paired with a solid defensive secondary, he could be one of the best playmakers early in the NFL.