Malcom

Brown

The 28-year-old started all 17 games for the Jaguars last season and played a career-high 61% of the defensive snaps, recording a pair of sacks. Under the new coaching staff, Brown is out. He was the 32nd overall pick of the 2015 draft by the Patriots.

Brown was nearly released days ago, but the Saints managed to get something back via trade. The Jaguars already had two interesting young players on the defensive interior -- DaVon Hamilton and Doug Costin -- but Brown offers some experience and arguably a higher ceiling. Brown, 27, will help dig the Jaguars out of their No. 27 rushing EPA ranking. After the trade, the Jaguars signed Brown to a two-year, $11 million contract with $8 million guaranteed.

The move will save the Saints $4.9 million against the cap. Parting ways with Brown -- who played in New Orleans for two years -- and restructuring Michael Thomas’ contract brings the Saints to $12 million over the salary cap. Brown, 27, should catch on with another team this offseason, likely with a one-year deal. He had 27 tackles and one sack in 2020.

The Saints are infamously in salary cap hell, and dealing Brown would free up $4.9 million in space. The same is true of releasing him. Now 27, Brown is a 400-500 snap player. Still a load up front, Brown could probably fetch a Day 3 pick.

Brown will immediately slide in as the Saints’ starting nose tackle. The Patriots turned down Brown’s 2019 team option last May, and he proceeded to earn, by far, the lowest Pro Football Focus marks of his career. Still only 25, however, Brown will be a prime bounce-back candidate along the Saints’ strong defensive line. At 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, Brown occupies a ton of space.

Brown is competing with Sealver Siliga at nose tackle, but at the very least will make an impact as a sub-package interior rusher. Dominique Easley is expected to start at three technique.

It comes with a fifth-year team option. Brown is expected to compete with Sealver Siliga for snaps next to 2014 first-rounder Dominique Easley on the interior of the Patriots’ line. The front seven is the strength of New England’s defense.

Brown (6'2/319) was a consensus first-team All American in 2014, finishing his Longhorns career with 29 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He flashed adequate athleticism in Indianapolis, running 5.05 with a 29 1/2-inch vertical. Capable of playing both one- and three-technique tackle, Brown is a quick-footed penetrator who flashes power to impose his will in run defense. He’s like a lower-case Danny Shelton. With Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, and Jabaal Sheard rotating on the ends, Brown figures to compete with Sealver Siliga to start at nose tackle, with Dom Easley at three technique. On paper, at least, the Pats have a nasty defensive line.

Brown was one of the better tackles in the league last season. He’s also missed just three games to injury, so there wasn’t much downside in picking up his option. The Patriots may try to extend Brown for lower than the $7 million he would have made in 2019.

Brown led Texas with 15 TFLs, six sacks and eight quarterback hits in 2014. The 6-foot-2, 320-pounder was a consensus All-American and finalist for the Nagurski and Outland Trophies. Brown is one of the best defensive tackles in the draft and projects as a first round pick.