During the 2018 season, the Oakland Raiders didn’t have the ability to challenge defenses vertically. That was especially true after the team traded away Amari Cooper and lost Martavis Bryant.
That is why the Raiders were so eager to acquire Brown was due to his ability to make big plays down the field. He has been arguably the best receiver in the league at taking the top off of the defense and making splash plays consistently. The advanced numbers back up Brown’s dominance well.
According to Pro Football Focus, no receiver in football has been more effective on deep targets than Brown. He’s led the league in receptions, touchdowns and contested catches over the last three seasons.
Brown had a fantastic connection with Ben Roethlisberger while in Pittsburgh, and it is going to be fascinating to see if he can quickly get on the same page with Derek Carr. Look for the four-time All-Pro receiver to continue to dominate down the field in Oakland.
