Noah Brown's final season with the Washington Commanders was nothing short of luckless. The veteran wide receiver dealt with injury problems that he never shook off, and those in power opted not to bring him back in free agency.
That was the right call to make from general manager Adam Peters. But after a long wait on the proverbial scrap heap, Brown now has a chance to galvanize his career elsewhere.
The Las Vegas Raiders confirmed the signing of Brown on a one-year deal. He now joins a promising but inexperienced wide receiver room, so there is a chance for the Ohio State product to feature on the offensive rotation if he gets up to speed quickly over the next few weeks.
Noah Brown finally gets another shot after inevitable Commanders exit
Brown will always be remembered fondly in Washington, most notably for his Hail Mary touchdown catch with time expiring to beat the Chicago Bears. This was quickly followed by a kidney injury that required surgery, denying him the chance to make a contribution during the Commanders' memorable run to the NFC Championship game.
Washington gave him the benefit of the doubt with another one-year deal. Unfortunately, the same concerning trend continued.
Brown hurt his knee over early offseason workouts and didn't get back until Week 1. He lasted two games before getting hurt again, and featured only twice more down the stretch before going to injured reserve for good.
It was a sad end. But now, a new opportunity has arrived.
And if he cannot make the most of it, there may not be another.
Noah Brown can offer something to the Raiders if he stays healthy
Brown can offer the Raiders something if he stays healthy. He's got the speed to stretch the field, and he is impressive in contested-catch situations. His strength makes him a useful red-zone option, and the wideout was among the league leaders in generating defensive pass interference penalties for good measure.
Asking him to come in instantly and be a go-to option might be pushing it. At the same time, Las Vegas could benefit greatly from these traits as the franchise aims to make positive strides.
The Commanders moved on from Brown a long time ago. They have Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs as their new dynamic duo, with several other young receivers looking for increased involvement within offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme. Not everyone will make the team, but the improved strength in depth is encouraging.
Those plans no longer include Brown. But getting the chance to catch passes from veteran Kirk Cousins and later, No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza within an expansive scheme devised by Klint Kubiak isn't the worst landing spot to fall into.
Health is key. If Brown gets a little bit of luck, which he no doubt deserves, the rangy pass-catcher can be productive.
But this is the last chance saloon.
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