2015 NFL Draft: Analysis of Patriots Selection of DT Malcom Brown

With the 32nd overall pick, the New England Patriots selected University of Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown.

This is an absolutely stellar pick. Brown should not have been available. Brown was the highest available player on my draft board (outside of La'el Collins, who is going through the legal system) and I thought Brown was going to go in the top half of the first round.

There were multiple reports that the Patriots had a trade lined up with the Texans to move down and out of the first round. It's clear that New England wasn't expecting Brown to slip past the atrocious Indianapolis defense (they picked another offensive player!), the Packers versatile defense (added to their secondary), or the Saints (opted for a linebacker). But when Brown was still on the board, the Patriots yanked the paperwork from the Texans and made their pick.

Brown is a three down player with the versatility to play inside in the 4-3 or outside on the 3-4. He is big, at 6'2, 320 lbs, and he has a tremendous first step. He and Dominique Easley, the Patriots first round pick from 2014, are going to pair together and be devastating for a long while.

New England now has a perfect 3-4 front, with Easley, Sealver Siliga, and Brown, along with a ferocious pressure-cooker of a 4-3 defensive line with Chandler Jones, Easley, Brown, Rob Ninkovich, and Jabaal Sheard.

I'm still flummoxed that Brown was on the board. He had been linked to multiple teams and wasn't expected to get past the Detroit Lions, as his floor. Chalk this up as a draft day steal.