The Bengals opted for a running back with breakaway speed Saturday when they took Chase Brown of Illinois in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Characterized by Ourlads Scouting Services as "a hard-nosed blazer with the kind of homerun ability that can change an offense in an instant," the 5-9, 215-pound Brown was timed in a 4.38 40-yard dash. He's a three-year starter, All Big Ten and a high school track star growing up in Ontario, Canada.
The Bengals are looking to beef up a running back room that had just Joe Mixon, Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans before the Brown pick. Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan indicated that Brown is in the mix for the No. 3 job, which is active on game day. Evidence of Brown's ability to pass protect is limited because he was such a workhorse for the Illini and he didn't have a big career catching the ball. But there's no question he's an accomplished runner. He's coming off a 1,643-yard season and averaged five yards per his 328 carries. Since transferring from Western Michigan after his freshman season, he's carried more than 600 times for a 5,3-yard average and has two 1,000-yard seasons.
See the best photos of RB Chase Brown, the Bengals fifth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Illinois running back Chase Brown runs against Northwestern during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. Illinois won 41-3. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Illinois running back Chase Brown carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois running back Chase Brown carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) rushes against Nebraska during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Lincoln, Neb. Illinois defeated Nebraska 26-9. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Illinois running back Chase Brown carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 24-3. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) runs the ball against Wisconsin during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Illinois running back Chase Brown carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against Wyoming Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois running back Chase Brown scores his second touchdown of the game during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wyoming, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wyoming, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito hands off to running back Chase Brown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wyoming, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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