Player Bio: Patriots Select Malcom Brown in First Round of 2015 NFL Draft
Name: Malcom Brown
Position: Defensive lineman
School: Texas
Selected: Round 1, Pick 32
Height: 6'2
Weight: 319
Strengths:
- Big-bodied, athletic lineman with ability to play in 3-4 or 4-3 defensive fronts
- Great feet for his size, plays with power and explosion off the snap
- Puts pressure on offensive lineman, can diagnose plays and react quickly
- Uses hands well to counter initial contact, control opposing lineman
- No off-field concerns, high maturity level
Weaknesses:
- Must develop more pass rush moves
- Plays with high motor, but can wear down as game goes on
- Technique will need work to reach potential in NFL
Expert's Takes:
"This is a great pick for the Patriots. To get Brown at 32 is tremendous. He has an ability to push the pocket. He can be a three-down player, but in New England he'll be in a system in which he plays all over the place." -- Mike Mayock
Compares To: Arthur Jones, Indianapolis Colts -- Like the 6-3, 337-pound Jones, Brown's size, strength and agility will intrigue clubs operating out of a base 4-3 or 3-4 alignment, alike. Also like Jones (who battled through a devastating knee injury as a senior to outplay his fifth-round selection), Brown possesses the maturity to take full advantage of his gifts. -- Dane Brugler, Rob Rang
"One of my favorite players in this draft class, he's easy to figure out when you study him... He can be dominant at the point of attack but also has that quickness to penetrate up-field." -- Daniel Jeremiah
Analysis:
Going into the first round I selected Florida State University defensive lineman, Eddie Goldman, in my mock draft. The position was correct, but Malcom Brown was expected to go earlier in the round -- I had him going 23 to the Detroit Lions. Despite initial reports the Patriots were going to trade down, New England took the Texas prospect to end the first night of the 2015 draft.
Brown is an excellent pick for the Patriots. He gives the team a big-bodied, athletic and versatile lineman to put in the trenches. Pairing Brown with 2014 first-round selection, Dominique Easley, could give the Pats a powerful combination in the middle of their defense.
Brown can eat up space, take on blockers and push the middle of the pocket, helping fill the void left by Vince Wilfork. With Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich on the outside, along with linebackers Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Jerod Mayo, New England's defensive front seven looks promising for the upcoming season.
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