There’s something genuinely refreshing about a player who could cash in elsewhere and simply doesn’t want to leave. That’s exactly what happened Monday morning when Cornerback Montaric “Buster” Brown agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Brown was a free agent who could’ve cleaned up on the open market. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported late last week that teams around the league were circling. And why wouldn’t they be? Brown had a career year in 2025, finishing with a 69.6 passer rating when targeted in coverage. That was sixth-best in the entire NFL among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps, per Next Gen Stats. That kind of number gets attention. That kind of number gets paid.
Brown’s Rise From Seventh-Round Afterthought To Paid Starter
Nobody circles a seventh-round pick on their draft board and says, “That’s our future starter.” Not in 2022. Not when Brown was selected out of Arkansas with pick No. 230 overall, but Brown refused to follow the script.
He appeared in 20 games across his first two seasons, working his way into the lineup slowly and steadily, picking up the nuances of the NFL game while Anthony Campanile’s zone-heavy defensive scheme gradually became a perfect fit for his skill set. By 2025, Brown wasn’t just starting; he was thriving. 12 pass breakups. 2 interceptions. 51 tackles. A completion rate against of just 54% on 68 targets. Opponents averaged a mere 10.4 yards per catch against him.
What the Deal Means For Jacksonville’s Defense
The Jaguars went 13-3 last season and won the AFC South title. That kind of success doesn’t come from a single player, but it absolutely requires depth and reliability at every level. Brown delivered both in spades.
With the corner locked in for the next three years, Jacksonville’s cornerback room suddenly looks like one of the stronger units heading into 2026. Brown handles one outside spot. Travis Hunter, the former No. 2 overall pick who dealt with a knee injury in his rookie year, is expected to line up across from him. Jourdan Lewis holds down the nickel. Jarrian Jones provides depth.
That’s a room that can compete. That’s a room that doesn’t need to be addressed with a high draft pick this April.
A Win For the Jaguars Front Office
General Manager James Gladstone deserves credit here. Brown is the third internal free agent he’s locked up since December, joining Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers and Offensive Lineman Cole Van Lanen. Three deals, three wins. Gladstone prioritized high-value positions and moved quickly before the free agency frenzy made things complicated and expensive.
Brown reportedly could have commanded more than $12 million per year on the open market. At $11 million annually, the Jaguars got him at a relative discount. That feels like a win for both sides, given that Brown gets security and Jacksonville avoids overpaying.
Brown Chose Jacksonville, and That Matters
There’s a bunch of player movement in the NFL. Contracts expire, teams offer more money, and loyalty gets tested every March. That’s just the business of football. When a player at the peak of his marketability turns down the chance to test those waters, it means something. Brown’s decision says as much about the culture Liam Coen and Gladstone are building in Jacksonville as it does about the cornerback himself.
