Earnest
Brown IV.
Earnest
Brown IV.
Northwestern· 6'5"· 293 lb
"A 6'5", 293-pound Northwestern strong-side end with a canceled 2021 Combine and thin career production — a Day-3 length-and-anchor project banking on frame growth over pass-rush plan."Pre-draft read
This base-down five-technique relies on his length and anchor. He sets the edge using two-handed extension, effectively walling off tight ends and pulling tackles in the run game. However, he lacks the first-step quickness and ankle flexion needed to be a consistent subpackage pass rusher.
His long hands tend to be late, leading him to fit into blocks rather than escaping them. On tape, his pass-rush plan primarily consists of a bull rush and an occasional long-arm, with limited counter moves. He demonstrates consistent effort and finishes plays, but bend, closing burst, and elite grip are all average. He projects best as an early-down piece in an odd front, with flexibility inside to a heavy 3-technique in short-yardage.
3-4 two-gap fronts that prioritize gap discipline, anchor, and length at the point of attack for early-down run defense.
Rotational base-down run defender in Year 1, with a ceiling as an early-down starter once his pass-rush plan develops.
3-4 one-gap attacking fronts that demand explosion, bend, and penetration from their down linemen.
A base-down run defender with length and anchor, Brown needs to develop significant pass-rush counters to earn consistent snaps in any scheme.
Earnest Brown IV Northwestern highlights
Big Ten run-defense reps and edge-setting anchor at Northwestern.
Earnest Brown IV Rams tape
Preseason and camp reps with the Los Angeles Rams.
Earnest Brown IV pre-draft breakdown
Scouting cut of Northwestern reps at 5-technique.
Brown projected as a developmental base-down five-technique, a role for which his frame and anchor were central to the evaluation. His path to NFL snaps required significant physical development, particularly in his pass-rush repertoire, given his limited college production in that area. Teams considered him a raw prospect who offered foundational elements attractive to a front-seven coach.
He played four seasons at Northwestern as a strong-side end, where he contributed to a Pat Fitzgerald-coached defensive front. Graded almost entirely on Big Ten tape due to the canceled 2021 Combine and a thin pro-day trail, he was viewed as a prospect whose physical attributes had not yet translated into consistent backfield production. His usage reflected a primary role in run defense.
Evaluators flagged his pass-rush plan, first-step quickness, and overall snap-count production as significant concerns. Consensus placed him in the late 5th to 7th-round range as a body-type bet. The Rams selected him at pick 174, indicating a willingness to invest a Day 3 draft pick in a player whose upside was tied to significant growth beyond his college tape.
- 01
Ideal Frame Dimensions
At 6'5" and 293 pounds with requisite arm length, his frame alone supported his presence on Day 3 draft boards.
- 02
Strong Edge Setter
He establishes a firm edge with two-handed extension, maintaining his ground against down blocks and combo blocks effectively.
- 03
Consistent Effort Player
He demonstrates consistent effort, chasing plays down the line against wide runs and persevering even when his initial rush is neutralized.
- 04
Collegiate Experience
Four years of experience as a contributor at Northwestern, a program known for teaching defensive line technique and gap discipline.
- 05
Alignment Versatility
His length and playing weight provide alignment flexibility between 5-technique and a heavy 3-technique in short-yardage packages.
- 01
Limited Pass Rush Moves
His pass-rush repertoire was largely limited to a bull rush and occasional long-arm, lacking a functional counter or hand-fighting sequence.
- 02
Modest Collegiate Production
He logged only 7 sacks over 40 games in four seasons, indicating a limited ability to consistently finish plays behind the line of scrimmage.
- 03
No Combine Testing
The canceled 2021 Combine and a limited pro-day meant no reliable athletic testing, making him a risk based primarily on frame.
- 04
Slow Initial Hand Strike
He demonstrates average snap-count reaction and a slow initial hand strike, which made him reactive rather than proactive.
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Northwestern | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | Northwestern | 14 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | Northwestern | 6 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | Northwestern | 9 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career | — | 40 | 71 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Long, developmental five-technique drafted late and used as base-down/practice-squad rotational depth without a real pass-rush breakthrough.
Length-first strong-side edge who carved out fringe rotational and practice-squad reps — the realistic high-end outcome if the Northwestern anchor traits translated cleanly.
Body-type edge who cycled off active rosters without a consistent NFL role — the tail outcome if the pass-rush plan never came.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Pre-draft context. Brown was a four-year Northwestern contributor who developed slowly on a defensive front, finishing his career with 62 tackles and 6 sacks across roughly 30 appearances. He measured a listed 6'5", 293 with above-average length for a strong-side end. The 2021 NFL Scouting Combine was canceled outright due to COVID and Northwestern's shortened pro-day slate meant his athletic testing was not consistently reported; boards graded him almost exclusively on tape. Consensus placed him firmly on Day 3 as a developmental base-down five-technique with a body-type profile and modest college production.
NFL fit — Los Angeles Rams. The Rams selected him at 174 as a length project for an attacking four-man front, betting on Aaron Donald's presence to insulate a developmental rookie. He spent 2021 between the active roster and practice squad without recording a defensive stat and did not stick for a second season with the club. He bounced through practice-squad and camp stints and never established a rotational NFL role.
Retrospective. A miss on a Round-5 projection that always hinged on physical development that never came. The Rams' Super Bowl LVI run was built by veterans and a first-round rookie corner, not by late-round defensive investments — Brown's outcome is the standard risk of buying frames and traits without a college pass-rush plan.