Every summer, it feels like New York Jets fans find a new undrafted wide receiver to rally behind. The formula is almost predictable — an unheralded name makes a few highlight-reel grabs in training camp or the preseason, flashes some underdog grit, and suddenly he’s the talk of Jets Twitter.
Most fade away once the regular season starts, but every so often, one of these summer darlings resurfaces elsewhere. This year, that’s Jason Brownlee, and he’s doing more than just hanging on in Kansas City so far.
Brownlee has been one of the biggest stars of Chiefs training camp this summer and is reportedly making a strong and highly improbable push for a roster spot.
Chiefs beat reporter Matt McMullen highlighted Brownlee’s standout summer on a recent edition of Ari Meirov’s NFL Spotlight podcast, insisting that the former Jets wideout has a real chance to make the 53-man roster.
“[Jason] Brownlee has made ‘wow’ plays just about every day to the point where you have to take him seriously.”
Matt McMullen
Ex-Jets WR Jason Brownlee could make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster
The Jets originally signed Brownlee as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. The former Southern Miss star was one of the most highly-touted UDFA wide receivers that year, and the Jets rewarded him with $216,000 in guarantees, the most among all their undrafted rookies.
Brownlee followed through on the hype, flashing his upside as a physical, jump-ball boundary receiver in camp and earning a spot on the Week 1 53-man roster in the process. He was one of two undrafted rookie wide receivers to make the team, along with Xavier Gipson.
Brownlee was used sparingly as a rookie, spending most of the early portion of the year as a healthy scratch, although injuries forced him into the lineup later in the season. He finished the year with five catches for 56 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
The Jets brought Brownlee back to compete for a roster spot the following year, but he failed to replicate his breakout from the previous summer and was ultimately relegated to the practice squad, where he spent the entire season.
In fact, Brownlee was surpassed by other young receivers on the Jets’ roster, including former UFL standout Brandon Smith, who was elevated to the active roster for a game while Brownlee remained on the sidelines.
Perhaps that’s why Brownlee opted to join the Chiefs’ practice squad in late January once his deal with the Jets expired. The 26-year-old would sign a reserve/future deal with Kansas City a few weeks later.
Brownlee is competing with the likes of former Day 2 picks like Skyy Moore and Tyquan Thornton, among others, for one of the final depth spots in the Chiefs’ wide receiver room. Based on reports out of Chiefs training camp, he’s earned a roster spot based on merit alone.
The Jets have seen Brownlee flash in training camp and the preseason before, but it never translated into regular-season success. Maybe this time will be different in Kansas City, and if it is, the Chiefs may have found a hidden gem the Jets couldn’t unlock.
