Malcom Brown: Browns Draft Profile
By Paul Noel
The Cleveland Browns season is over. We will spend a good amount of time reviewing the season but we will spend even more time preparing for the off-season. Browns 2015 NFL Draft seems ready to be a very interesting one for the team. With 10 picks, including two in the first round, the Browns are ready to make noise again for the second year in a row.
Instead the 2014 started off strong and ended with a thud. Last year the Browns draft included a big trade down and the drafting of Johnny Manziel. While the first round hasn’t panned out yet, the rest of the draft seems to be great. It is likely that GM Ray Farmer and Head Coach Mike Pettine see a greater need for more veteran talent on a very young roster and we expect them to be aggressive in seeking to bring in that talent during Browns free agency.
After free agency we wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns tried to trade their picks to move up, to get another veteran or went with best player available instead of drafting for need. Farmer did this last year when he drafted Joel Bitonio, Terrance West, Christian Kirksey and others instead of drafting a wide receiver. We could see that again.
In preparation for such we will be taking a look at certain players that we think the Browns could target. Keep in mind we are not saying that these are players they are targeting, although some rumors may start to leak of the Browns having interest in them, instead these are players that we think the Browns could or should have interest in. Our profile will try to include as much information as possible to prepare you for free agency.
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Name
Malcom Brown
Position
Defensive tackle
Height/Weight
6’2″, 320 lbs
School
Texas Longhorns
Stats (Link)
2014 – 13 Games; 38 Solo tackles; 32 Assisted tackles; 13 tackles for loss; 6.5 sacks; 1 Pass Defended; 7 QB Hurries; 2 Forced Fumbles
2014 NFL Draft Comparison
Dominique Easley – 29th Overall (Patriots) – Easley’s explosiveness off the ball was amongst the best in the SEC. He has quick, active hands to slap away blockers and is able to hold up well against the run at this level due to good core strength. Easley was considered among the top defensive interior players in his draft class, but had injury concerns that caused him to slide to the Patriots at 29.
2015 NFL Draft Range
15-20 Range 1st Round – The 2015 NFL Draft has great depth along the Offensive and Defensive lines. Malcom Brown is in the discussion of among the top 5 defensive interior players in this draft class. His draft stock hinges on whether or not he declares his intentions to come out as a junior, and how well he performs at the NFL Combine.
Fit with the Browns
Malcom Brown passes all the eye tests, he is a big and strong interior defensive lineman who finished off his junior year with the Longhorns as a consensus All-American and was a finalist for both the Bronko Nagurski Award and Outland Trophy, recording 64 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Brown has great movement skills, range and redirection skills to make plays away from the line of scrimmage. And with 6.5 sacks he shows the ability to penetrate and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Brown is also very mature and fits the mold that the Browns’ organization maybe looking for in there 1st round picks; married with two children and volunteered his time for the Adam’s Angels Ministry, which is a support organization for families who have children with cancer or have lost children to cancer.
Browns Player Selection Could Impact
John Hughes stands to be the most impacted player by the drafting or signing of any defensive lineman. Hughes has been a decent player for the Browns’ but has been out shined and out performed by both Billy Winn and Armonty Bryant. Outside of Hughes being impacted, free agent DT Ahtyba Rubin stands to be on the outside looking in and with lackluster stats for the Browns’ against the run it stands that he may be free to walk in free agency.
How Selection Could Be Impacted By Free Agency
The Browns have a number of needs to address in free agency, but defensive line and wide reciever seem to be at the top of the list. Signing a free agent wide receiver would address one of those needs and allow the Browns to concentrate on finding a run stopper along the defensive line in the first round. If the Browns choose to sign a veteran defensive lineman in free agency then the Browns might be in a scenario taking a “best player available” approach or focus on finding a young wide receiver.
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Priority
High – The Browns defense has shown potential, but the front seven needs depth and an infusion of talent whether it is through the draft or the signing of a veteran free agent. Malcom Brown would be a great fit, provided that he declares and the Browns are satisfied with his performance at the NFL combine.
What do you think about targeting Malcom Brown in the 2015 NFL Draft?
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