INDIANAPOLIS -- The Cardinals have a host of players scheduled to hit free agency in a couple weeks, and the most intriguing of the lot is John Brown.
The wide receiver was a burgeoning star after his first two seasons, racking up 113 catches, 1,699 yards and 12 touchdowns in that span. But a sickle cell trait diagnosis and subsequent injuries derailed the past two seasons, leaving teams to dream about his potential but worry about the health problems.
Brown is listed as one of the top pending free agents by multiple outlets. It remains to be seen what kind of interest the Cardinals will have in retaining him, but coach Steve Wilks knows his upside well after scouting Brown the last few years as defensive backs coach and then defensive coordinator of the Panthers.
"When you look at what he's been able to do for us over the years, a solid 'X' (outside receiver), a guy that can take the top off," Wilks said on Wednesday afternoon from the NFL Scouting combine. "Being on the other side and trying to game plan and go against him, he's definitely a threat. He's someone you've got to be concerned with. The biggest thing, if we move forward in 2018 and he's back on the roster, it's trying to make sure that he's healthy and that he can stay out there for 16-plus games. That's the key thing."
