Austin Brown: Versatile DB Prospect for NFL Draft

On March 10, Wisconsin Safety, Austin Brown is emerging as a versatile defensive bag prospect for the 2026 NFL draft.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior from Johnson City, Illinois, brings the kind of flexibility teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Crave and Todd Bowles is defense. Brown can play deep safety, slot corner, or in the box, all while delivering solid run support.

Early in his badges career, Brown started on special teams before becoming a full-time starter.

In 2024, he posted 51 tackles, three pass breakups, one sack, and a force fumble across eight starts, shining with nine tackles.

And a strip sack against USC. The next year, he started all 12 games with 52 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three passes defended, including 11 stops against.

Alabama scouts praise his steady production and academic honors like multiple academic all big 10 nods.

His tackling stands out earning an 85.8 grade from PFF in 2024, showing reliable pursuit and yards after contact.

Limitation. At pro day, Brown crushed testing with 20 bench press reps, topping safeties at the NFL Combine, plus a 43-inch vertical leap that beat.

The Combine leader. These numbers highlight his explosiveness and strength, boosting his stock beyond college stats.

Brown projects as a day three pick, offering rotational depth and special teams value right away.

His multi-role experience makes him a natural fit for schemes needing adaptable backs, potentially growing into a key contributor down the line.