Zach Brown agreed to terms on a contract with the Washington Redskins. NFL media insider Ian Rapoport originally reported on the story. The new pact is pending a physical, but is reportedly a one-year deal worth $4.65 million.
Source: The #Redskins have agreed to terms with FA LB Zach Brown, pending a physical. Big-name free agent off the market.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2017
#Redskins LB Zach Brown signed a 1-year deal worth a maximum value of $4.65M, source said. $500k signing bonus. Not bad this late in FA.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2017
Zach Brown Signs With Washington
Brown spent the 2016 season with the Bills on a one-year, $1.25 million deal. He provided a formidable presence on Buffalo’s linebacking corps, leading the team with 97 tackles. He also added an interception, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and four sacks.
His impressive year drew notice across the league. Pro Football Focus gave Brown the 17th highest player grade among NFL linebackers. And for his efforts, the 27-year-old made the first Pro Bowl of his career.
The soon-to-be sixth year pro spent the first four seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans. He made a total of 33 starts, registering ten sacks and six interceptions. But his 2014 campaign ended after only a week after he tore his pectoral muscle in the team’s opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
A year later, Brown appeared in all 16 games but made just five starts. He finished third on the team in tackles and registered only a half a sack. Those numbers, combined with the injury a year earlier, adversely impacted his value in free agency. And as a result, he signed a “prove it” contract with the Bills for 2016.
Brown made an immediate impact as a rookie, starting 14 games and finishing as the Titan’s second-leading tackler. His 5.5 sacks and three interceptions that year both remain career highs. And in the season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he returned two picks for touchdowns in the Titans 38-20 win.
The Titans selected Brown in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Before that, the 6’1″ 250 pounder played collegiately at North Carolina. As a senior, he earned first-team all-ACC honors after leading the Tar Heels in tackles (105) and finishing seventh in the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss.
