Could Hollywood Brown bring a spark to the Giants offense?

You have to be special to earn the nickname “Hollywood” at a football program with the size and pedigree of Oklahoma’s. The Sooners have seen a lot of good players come through their program, but it was Marquise Brown who earned the name “Hollywood.”

Brown was originally called “Hollywood” because he was a JUCO transfer from California, but it was his play on the field that made the name stick. For most of the last two years, Hollywood Brown has been one of the most exciting players on a football field, and despite his size, his electric athleticism gave him the ability to change the complexion of a game on any given snap.

The New York Giants recently traded away a receiver with similar game-breaking ability, so could they be interested in a young man who was a premier weapon for Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray?

Measurables

Pros

• Very sudden off the line of scrimmage as well as in and out of breaks.
• Impressive start/stop quickness.
• Explosive acceleration.
• Able to access an extra gear most defenders lack.
• Acceleration and small stature make it difficult for defenders to jam in press coverage.
• Surprisingly advanced route runner.

Cons

• Lack of size will be a big issue for some teams.
• Suffered a Lisfranc injury which required surgery to repair.
• Size limits him as a blocker.
• Struggles in contested catch situations.

Prospect Video

What They’re Saying

Brown is one of the more polarizing evaluations in the class, as his strengths and limitations are very evident on film. I don’t see him ever quite reaching the level that Tyreek Hill has ascended to, but he will be an explosive, productive receiver at the next level. The next step for Brown is some added muscle, as it will help him in contested situations, as a blocker and as a ball carrier. As long as he doesn’t sacrifice speed, Brown could become a pro-bowler if he’s able to increase his strength. I anticipate Brown being a bit over-drafted in the first round, as an NFL team is going to fall in love with his speed and ceiling.

- Brad Kelly (The Draft Network - Scouting Report)

Does He Fit The Giants?

If the Giants are looking for a dynamic receiver who who can legitimately blow the top off a defense, they should give Hollywood Brown serious consideration. They will, of course, have to do their due diligence with his medical report -- Lisfranc injuries can be an issue for any position, but are particularly scary for receivers who depend on their athleticism.

But if his foot checks out, Brown adds the kind of dynamism to their passing game that it currently lacks.

His electric athleticism will get most of the attention, but he is actually quite judicious in how he uses it. While he can out-athlete defenders and gain separation through sheer explosiveness, Brown will often use defender’s respect (or fear) of this speed to his advantage. He frequently varies the tempo in his stems, throwing off defender’s timing before running his route into them and exploding into his break for easy separation and running room. Oklahoma also used the threat of his speed on jet-motion, forcing defenses to respect the possibility of Brown as a ball carrier out of the backfield.

And when he has the ball with room to run, Brown isn’t just an “all gas, no breaks” player. He shows solid field awareness of both potential tacklers and his blockers, and the patience to set both up for his benefit.

When it comes to blocking for his own teammates, Brown is willing and gives solid effort, but his modest size limits his upside.

Marquise Brown might not be Dave Gettleman’s cup of tea -- after all, he is about as far from a “big man” as you can get in the sport of football. However, if his medical reports check out, he fits a passing game predicated on quick separation and high YAC potential.