The New Orleans Saints just picked their third receiver of the NFL Draft. Last time they did that was 1989, and two of those receivers were picked in the eighth and twelfth round. Kellen Moore picked 3 receivers in 6 rounds in 2026: Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance and now Barion Brown.
Moore isn't just a madman collecting offensive talent either. Brown is a little different from Tyson and Lance. Brown will be on the roster as a wide receiver, but his most prominent role will be as a return specialist. And it's something he's done really well in college.
Brown is more of a kick returner than a punt returner. He played at Kentucky and LSU, and every year he led the SEC in kick return touchdowns. Last year, he led the conference in touchdowns, yards and yards per return. In 2023, Brown returned three kicks back to the house and averaged an SEC-best 36 yards per kick return.
Barion Brown is the Saints' clear replacement for Rashid Shaheed
The Saints traded away Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline last season. He was a former All-Pro return specialist, and continued to be an asset in that department while also being the Saints' second leading receiver.
The Saints won't task Brown with pulling double duty. He should be the Saints return specialist through and through. His collegiate resume suggests he could be an instant impact player. With the emphasis the NFL is placing on bringing the kick return back into the game, Brown has the ceiling of quietly being one of the Saints' most impactful draftees.
The Saints have impeccable taste when it comes to picking their returners lately, and the pressure is on Brown to continue the trend.. Shaheed's success is a recent memory, but Shaheed took over for a Deonte Harty. Harty also made All-Pro as a return specialist. Both players were undrafted free agents who started as returners before stepping into bigger roles on the offense.
Brown does come with some receiving ability, so he shouldn't be written off completely. He had over 500 yards in three of his four collegiate seasons. Brown's return ability also translates to being a dynamic yards after catch threat. It gets lost in the shuffle of all the receivers selected by the Saints, but that's the prototype of receiver they needed.
With all the bodies in the room and now at tight end, finding receptions for Brown will likely be rare. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see him get a few touches on offense on designed plays. As time goes on, Brown has the talent to earn a bigger offensive role. The room is just too stacked right now to project that, so his return ability remains his biggest asset to the team.
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