Buffalo Bills top-5 best moves of the 2019 off-season

No. 5 Signing John Brown

Josh Allen has a cannon-arm, but without anybody to throw it to, it’s ineffective. In 2018, Allen had to make do with a patch-work receiver group consisting of a second-year Zay Jones, UDFA Robert Foster, Kelvin Benjamin, Andre Holmes, Isaiah McKenzie and more. Other than Jones and Foster, few showed potential to be productive in the present and future. Cue John Brown, who, along with separate additions, should make a better on-field receiving product than last years.

Brown, a speedster and deep-threat by nature, could form a dynamic duo with Allen. A five-year veteran, Brown should be able to provide Allen with the speed and consistency he needs on deep-balls. But, he brings a bit more to the table. Though undersized at 5-foot-11, 187-pounds, Brown has continued to build a well-rounded game throughout the years.

Not just a deep-threat, Brown’s improvement on horizontal breaking routes should give Allen a target on all levels of the field. He’s a menace after the catch, and his short area quickness should bode well on gadget plays. But, don’t get it twisted; he’s at his best when he’s going deep. Yes, he’s going to be more than that, as a candidate to be the No. 1 receiver, but Brian Daboll should utilize him heavy on vertical breaking routes.

Brown has done his best work with quarterbacks that can push the ball down the field. When Carson Palmer, a gunslinger, had a career year in 2015, so did he. The two connected on deep shots frequently as Brown recorded 1,003 yards on an average of 15.4 yards per catch. When he played with Joe Flacco for nine games in 2018, he tallied 34 catches for 601 yards on an average of 17.7 yards per catch.

Brown’s game admittingly falters when he doesn’t have a strong-armed quarterback throwing to him. Time and time again, he’s played like a Pro Bowler with the right signal-caller tossing to him, but without them, he’s not the same. Luckily, in Buffalo, that won’t be a problem as Allen will provide him with the deep-balls they both thrive on for the duration of his affordable three-year, $27 contract.

You can call that a win-win.