New England Patriots Sign 1st Round Pick Malcom Brown, Release TE Davis
 The Patriots signed first round draft pick, DT Malcom Brown to a four-year contract today. Terms were not available. (USA TODAY Images) |
The Patriots announced today the signing of first-round draft pick defensive tackle Malcom Brown. While terms of the contract were not available, Brown became the second-to-last first round pick to sign a contract this spring. Only QB Marcus Mariota of the Titans remains unsigned. The Patriots also released tight end Fred Davis.
Brown, 21, was selected by the Patriots with the final pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The 6’2, 320 defensive stand-out at Texas, started 26-of-39 games over his three-year career and started all 13 games he played as a junior in 2014 and finished with 72 total tackles and 6½ sacks. He was a consensus first-team Big 12 and All-America selection.
Brown is expected to fill some big shoes with the departure of Vince Wilfork this spring but although the similar in size the two are different players. Brown downplayed comparisons to Big Vince when talking to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald this week during mini-camp.
"I'm not here to replace anybody," Brown said to Howe. "Vince was a great player, and obviously everybody sees that. Whatever role the coaches give me, I'm going to take that role and play my best at it."
Brown got plenty of work during OTAs and mini-camp with the absence of Sealver Siliga, Alan Branch and Chris Jones. He and 2nd year DT Dominique Easley are expected to play key roles for the interior of the Patriots defense for years to come.
Davis was attempting a comeback and was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on May 11, 2015 just four days after being reinstated by the NFL. Davis is a veteran of six NFL seasons (2008-13) with the Washington Redskins but was suspended indefinitely by the NFL after failing a drug test for the second time.
Bill Belichick this week lauded Davis’ work ethic in trying to work his way back into the NFL but did hint that rust was a factor in saying that Davis, “hadn’t played in a while.”
Originally a 2nd round draft pick (48th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft out of USC, Davis played in 72 NFL games with 43 starts and has 162 receptions for 2,043 yards with 13 touchdowns. His best season was in 2011 when he caught 59 passes for 796 yards with three touchdowns.
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