Best Case, Worst Case: Daniel Brown
What is the best possible outcome for Daniel Brown and what is his worst scenario?
As we get ready for the 2017 Bears season, it is a good time to look at the ceiling and floor of every player currently on the Bears roster. Of course, career ending injury is the absolute floor, but we will try to keep it to an on the field scenario. Also, this is the most reasonable ceiling to be set, Mitchell Trubisky is not going to be Super Bowl MVP, MVP and Rookie of the Year this season. With that all said, this edition will look at tight end, Daniel Brown.
Best Case:
Zach Miller is slow to get on the field after his season-ending surgery. Adam Shaheen is not quite ready for the first team reps in camp, and it gives Daniel Brown a chance to take starter reps. He excels in the role as a receiver and becomes a great big slot option. He performs well throughout the preseason and is on the same page as Mike Glennon.
Even when Miller comes back Brown is seeing starter reps, and in the third preseason game Brown has five catches and a touchdown in the first half. Brown winds up not only making the team but starting most of the season as the pass catching tight end while Shaheen develops. Even as Shaheen is inserted into the lineup Brown sees reps and winds up with career highs in every statistical category, including five touchdowns. Brown is an exclusive rights free agent and his 2018 season is picked up.
Next: Best Case, Worst Case: Adrian Amos
Worst Case:
Brown does not improve at all as a blocker. It becomes very obvious early into camp that he should be lumped in with the wide receivers, not the tight ends. However, as a pass catcher, he is the slowest of the bunch. He struggles to find a place on special teams and is a clear tweener without a home on the roster. The Bears struggle to find a role for him in the preseason, and the writing is on the wall. Brown gets cut and spends most of his season on another team’s practice squad, before finding a camp job late into the summer of 2018.