New England Patriots: Malcom Brown was steal at No. 32

The New England Patriots have a lot of unwanted attention surrounding their team with the “Deflate Gate” scandal.

More from New England Patriots

The buzz around Tom Brady has overshadowed the Patriots’ 2015 NFL Draft class. The draft was an important event for the Patriots, who had a few holes to fill after winning the Super Bowl. While they didn’t have a high pick in the first-round, New England was able to make up for it with 11 draft picks overall.

In normal Patriots’ fashion, they were able to get what looks like a very good player in the first-round. The Patriots are famous for trading back in the NFL Draft, which is part of the reason why they had 11 picks. This year however, there was a lot of talent on the board and the fits was perfect for this team.

One of the biggest losses for the Patriots this offseason was the departure of defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. He may not be the dominant force that he once was, but Wilfork was a big part of the Patriots’ organization since being in the first-round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Wilfork signed with the Houston Texans, leaving a big hole on Patriots’ defensive line. Wilfork has been a steady force for the Patriots, and although he was never much of a pass-rusher, Wilfork was the center of a rushing defense.

Even though it was the Patriots’ decision to ultimately move on from Wilfork, he still needed to be replaced. With the 32nd overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Patriots did just that.

It was a bit shocking to see University of Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown still available when the Patriots were on the clock. Many thought that Brown was going to be selected by the Detroit Lions earlier in the first-round. Brown and the Lions made almost too much sense after the Lions lost Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. The Lions drafted for other needs instead, and Brown dropped. Brown was great value for the Patriots with the final pick in the first-round, and he also helped fill a need.

Sep 13, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Malcom Brown (90) sacks UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17)during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Brown was a force at Texas. In 2014, Brown was a finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the most defensive player in the country. Brown was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the top interior lineman. As expected, Brown was on the first-team in the conference, and was also a first-team All-American.

In 2014, Brown had a fantastic season at Texas, as he totaled 6.5 sacks, 71 total tackles, and 13 tackles for loss.

At Texas, Brown was a solid pass-rusher, and he certainly offers a bit more athleticism than Wilfork ever did. The highest amount of sacks Wilfork ever totaled in a season was 3.5, which is a number Brown should be able to surpass.

Brown has the ability to play in either the 3-4 or 4-3 defenses, which makes him fit well for nearly every team. The Patriots drafting Brown was really a no-brainer, as he should have a bright future in the NFL.

Next: Was releasing Alfonso Dennard a mistake?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/New England Patriots