Cardinals free agent Jaron Brown receiving interest as No. 2 receiver

If the Arizona Cardinals want to retain the services of wide receiver Jaron Brown, they may need to dig a little deeper into their checkbook than expected.

Former Cardinals assistant wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said nine teams have called him about the free agent, Mike Jurecki revealed on The Blitz with B-Train and Jurecki on Monday morning. Some have expressed interest in signing him as a No. 2 receiver.

“It’s definitely encouraging to have some teams showing interest,” Brown said on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “I really only need one team to take a chance and just give me an opportunity to show what I can do.”

Brown spent his first five years in the Valley after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He started every game for the first three seasons, but in October 2016, he tore his ACL. He finished the season with only 11 catches but averaged 17 yards per reception.

Healthy again in 2017, Brown showed bursts of solid play – most notably, an eight-catch, 105-yard game against San Francisco – but was inconsistent and averaged only 29.8 yards per game. He finished the season with 477 yards and 31 receptions, second-most on the team.

His upside as a deep threat and impact on special teams has prompted interest from others around the league.

Despite up-and-down play last season coming off injury, Brown is confident he can be a No. 2 receiver.

“I don’t feel like I put up the numbers I should have put up,” he said. “That’s what the offseason’s for, and I’m going to come back next year even better.”

Brown said he’s open to returning to the Cardinals if they have interest. As the team that took a chance on him five years ago, it’s the only professional environment he’s known. He also has veteran influences such as Larry Fitzgerald.

“That’s one guy that kind of taught me how to be a pro,” Brown said. “Outside of football, taking care of your body, just doing the little things during the offseason, throughout the week during the season. I could go on and on, but just kind of learning how to be a pro.”

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