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New Orleans Saints Biggest Draft Misses under Sean Payton: No. 3, Charles Brown

By John Hendrix

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In just a short couple of days, we’ll finally learn the fate of the New Orleans Saints first round picks in the NFL Draft. Many mock drafts will either hit big or whiff terribly, and players like Randy Gregory and Shane Ray certainly have had their draft stock plummet with their respective off the field issues.

We’re inside the top three of our series that centers around the top ten draft misses under Sean Payton’s tenure. Today is a doozy, as we focus on tackle Charles Brown.

Charles Brown, Tackle
2010 Draft, 2nd Round, #64 Overall – USC

Charles Brown was the No. 5 prospect of 96 possible offensive tackles coming into the 2010 NFL draft. Brown had an interesting back story about him, as he was originally recruited by USC as a tight end prospect. Entering the draft, many regarded him as a ‘gifted athlete’. His size was certainly appealing, standing at 6’5″ and weighing in at 303 pounds.

The Saints would draft Brown as the 64th overall selection, despite having four tackles on their roster at the time. He’d see some action with the team over the first few seasons, filling in for injured Zach Strief in a total of eight games. Brown would have injury issues of his own to deal with, which hindered him from getting on the field on a full-time basis.

After much hard work and impressing through training camp, Brown would earn the starting left tackle job for the 2013 season after beating out Jason Smith and rookie Terron Armstead. Brown was more than happy to have the opportunity.

"“For me, as far as being a pro and getting injuries and having to be patient and always work, that’s the part I’ve had to learn,” Brown said. “Especially when stuff’s going wrong. You have to learn how to be patient and look at the positive. I never really had to go through that at SC.”"

Overall, Brown’s play was underwhelming over the course of the season. However, after a horrible showing against the St. Louis Rams late in the season (specifically Robert Quinn), Sean Payton had finally seen enough, and it decided Brown’s fate with the team. Payton publicly stated that the left tackle position ‘kept him up at night’. That’s how bad it was. Brown finished as the Saints worst offensive lineman on Pro Football Focus grading, finishing at a -15.3, surrendering seven sacks on Drew Brees. Brown also gave us 33 QB hurries and nine hits. What might have been worse is committing twelve penalties. They were true killers.

Brown would be picked up by the New York Giants on April 1, 2014, and appeared in three games for the G-Men. He was later waived on November 22, 2014, and has not found employment since.

Some players the Saints could have drafted in that Round: Being that the New Orleans Saints drafted last in the round, you’d have to look in the 3rd Round, and my personal favorites are: WR Eric Decker (#87), LB Navarro Bowman (#91)

Stay tuned as we count down the biggest busts and misses leading up to the NFL Draft!

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