Saints Rookie Continues Camp Rise After Highlight Play With Spencer Rattler

The New Orleans Saints selected Barion Brown with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, alongside Chris Olave, to complement quarterback Tyler Shough with two explosive receiving options. However, Brown has garnered significant attention during training camp. Following praise from head coach Kellen Moore, Brown showcased his talents with a dazzling 46-yard touchdown reception from Spencer Rattler, sealing the two-minute drill on Thursday.

Initially a second-string player, Brown's contributions have earned him more first-team opportunities, hinting at his potential role in the Saints' 2026 lineup.

Notably, Brown's college career at Kentucky and LSU was marked by impressive statistics. At Kentucky, he earned first-team All-American and second-team All-SEC honors, recording 539 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 43 catches, in addition to 576 kickoff return yards and three touchdowns. In his senior year at LSU, Brown again claimed first-team All-SEC honors before transferring, where he amassed 532 receiving yards and a touchdown on 53 catches, alongside 445 kickoff return yards and another return touchdown.

Over his four-year college tenure, Brown amassed 2,060 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, 1,910 kickoff return yards, and six return touchdowns. His special teams prowess caught the eye of the Saints during the draft, but Brown is rapidly establishing himself as a key contributor to the team's offensive strategy.

Moore commended Brown's ability to adjust to Rattler's throws, highlighting his effectiveness in making difficult catches. With two weeks remaining until the start of the season, Brown appears poised to challenge for a starting spot alongside Devaughn Vele and fourth-round pick Bryce Lance, vying for targets from the quarterback corps.