Dallas Cowboys: Is Malcom Brown the way to go in the draft?

By Stephen Forsha | Mar 29, 2015

No matter what player the Dallas Cowboys select in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 30 it is most likely they will draft a defensive player with the 27th overall selection.

When that selection is made, it is say to say they will have a player who can really make a difference on their roster from the first day of rookie camp.

That said, one player who has been receiving some buzz as possibly being the next player drafted by the Cowboys is defensive tackle Malcom Brown from the University of Texas.

To be honest I’ve never though of the Cowboys drafting Brown, but that is because I’ve been too fixated on the hopes the Cowboys would be able to draft Alvin “Bud” Dupree of the University of Kentucky. That hope looks all but over as it seems like he’ll be off the board time the 27th overall pick is on the clock.

With the realization that Dupree will be off the board, it only makes sense the Cowboys stick on the defensive side of the ball, and work on their interior defensive line situation.

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Last season the Cowboys defense ranked eighth in the NFL by allowing 103.1 yards rushing per game, and 26th in allowing 251.0 passing yards per game. The Cowboys defense also gave up a total of 355.1 yards per game, 19th in the NFL.

For a repeat and improvement of the 12-4 overall regular season, those aforementioned numbers must improve, because the competition in the NFC East has improved.

One player who can make a difference on their defensive line is the 6-2, 319 pound Brown, who CBSSports.com has as the 16th overall rated player, and the third best defensive tackle in the 2015 NFL Draft.

What I like about Brown is the fact he’s strong. At the NFL Combine in February, the defensive tackle benched pressed 225 pounds 26 consecutive times, and that strength and size can help create space for the rest of a defense to take advantage of.

According to Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of CBSSports.com, the duo wrote how Brown compares to Arthur Jones of the Indianapolis Colts:

"“They wrote: 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.”"

The part the duo wrote about Brown being mature would work out very well for a team like the Cowboys, because they are currently battling a closing window of “winning now” with some of their players.

According to Gil Brandt of NFL.com, the pro day of Brown was a success on March 24:

"“Each of the three defensive line coaches in attendance at the pro day took turns putting Brown through drills. Brown worked through the very tough workout and was impressive.”"

That is good news and bad news for the Cowboys because they know he’s a player who has impressed this offseason. On the other hand he’s impressing more than just the front office of the Cowboys, making him possibly off the board by the time the Cowboys draft on day one.

While at Texas this past season, Brown finished with 69 total tackles (38 solo) and 6.5 sacks. On Sept, 6 vs. BYU, Brown had 10 total tackles (five solo) and 2.5 sacks. In his final collegiate game against Arkansas in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29 the defensive tackles finished with eight total tackles.

With the Cowboys having various needs on the defensive side of the ball (more compared to the offensive side) there is a good chance defense is the way the team will go on day one of the draft. I say that, but there is a chance if a certain running back is on the board at 27th overall, maybe their defensive needs will have to wait until a later round.

I’m still on the boat the Cowboys can wait at RB in this draft and they should work on their defense in the draft.

Even though Greg Hardy and Jasper Brinkley have been added to the roster, the more defense and depth the Cowboys build for the ’15 season, the better chance they have at repeating as not only the NFC East champions, but adds to their ability to move further than the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Next: Cowboys: Would Kevin Johnson be right at 27th overall?

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