No. 3 Tight End Becoming 'Big Target' for New England Patriots

The New England Patriots continue to get big-play efforts from reserve tight end Pharaoh Brown.

FOXBORO — While New England Patriots tight end Pharaoh Brown may not yet be considered the "general of generals" in the team's offensive game plan, he is proving himself as valuable as anyone in their quest to rebuild their gridiron army. 

Having been known primarily for his blocking prior to his late-summer arrival in New England, Brown has showcased his pass-catching abilities on a handful of memorable occasions this season. The results of his efforts have often put the team in a favorable position. 

During Sunday's 29-25 upset of the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium, Brown caught two passes for 51 yards — a 25-yard strike from quarterback Mac Jones in the Pats' opening series on offense, and another 26-yard seam gain to begin a touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter. 

While his performance is pleasingly catching the eye of Patriots Nation, it also earned him the praise of head coach Bill Belichick. 

“Pharaoh’s a big target," Belichick said of the 6-6, 258-pound tight end. "He’s got good hands. He’s done a really good job of running with the ball, securing the ball and picking up positive yardage after the catch. So, he’s been consistent doing that and it’s been a big help.”

The Patriots' Week 7 win was not the first time Brown found himself in the New England spotlight. During the Pats Week 4 victory over the New York Jets, the Oregon product demonstrated the talents for which Belichick praised him to complete a 58-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. It was New England's longest scoring reception of the season, as well as Brown's individual tenure as a pro. He also set his new career-high for receiving yards in a single game with 71. 

Including his pair of catches against the Bills, Brown now has five catches for 137 yards (and one touchdown) this season, while averaging 27.4 YPR, or yards-per-reception. Accordingly, he has been awarded as the highest-graded tight end in the NFL at 92.4 from Pro Football Focus. 

As Patriots Country reported on Sunday, the highest average YPR in a season for a Patriots player is held by receiver Stanley Morgan with a 23.4-yd average in 1981 — a year in which he caught 44 passes for 1,029 yds. While there are still plenty of games to play in 2023, Brown's productivity suggests that he may remain withing striking distance of Morgan's 42-year-old mark.  

To do so, it would require the Pats offense to spread their pass distribution a bit more favorably in Brown's direction, as opposed to lead options Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. In the meantime, the seven-year veteran appears content to share the wealth with his teammates, while staying prepared for the times in which he is called to action. 

“All three tight ends can make plays, and that’s what you see out there." Brown said of his positional group. "Any time one of our numbers is called, everybody is making the big play. My plays, I have to actually watch it, I just see the ball and I catch the ball and just go. It’s more like reactionary for me, I’m seeing stuff, I’m seeing blocks, and I’m just moving.”

New England Patriots tight end Pharaoh Brown points to the Patriot goal line after a big 4th quarter reception and run for New Engand :: © Kris Craig / USA TODAY NETWORK

For New England, Brown's offensive contributions may be categorized as a pleasant bonus. In theory, the 29-year-old was likely brought to New England to assist as a lead blocker. In fact, the instances in which he has been deployed as such have led to their gaining some much-needed yards on the ground. 

Brown has specialized as a blocker since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent who signed with the Oakland Raiders following the 2017 NFL Draft. Since that time, he has played for the Raiders (2017), Cleveland Browns (2018-2019), Houston Texans (2020-2022) and the Browns again (2022). 

During his first season with the Texans, Brown played under Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and current tight ends coach Will Lawing. If there is any pair aptly qualified to optimally maximize Brown's talents, O'Brien and Lawing may be the right men for the job. 

"Pharaoh is a smart football player, tough football player," Lawing said of Brown.
"The thing that he does really well is he plays with a physical nature. He likes contact. When you're in that role, it involves that."

Brown's "physical nature" continues to serve him well both as a blocker and pass-catcher. Fortunately, it is a quality which he readily embraces, as evidenced by the prideful smile he wore last month when describing his playing style to a group of reporters huddled near his locker. 

“I love football,” Brown said in late September. “I love the physicality part of it. I’m just kind of fearless, just my natural being. I just love the game. I’m trying to go in there and smash people."

New England collectively hopes that Brown will continue to smash the competition throughout the remainder of the season ... leading both to greater excitement on the field and more points on the scoreboard. 

So let it be written … So let it be done. 

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