Malcom Brown has been cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and an opportunity appears to be in front of the Detroit Lions.
Around the start of training camp, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell cited a need for more “girth” along the defensive line. The need has not been aggressively addressed, though they did sign Isaiah Buggs, as much as it even could be addressed in late-July or August.
But an interesting option has now surfaced.
On Wednesday, the Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran defensive tackle Malcom Brown. He had been working with the third-team defense, and was clearly not a fit with the new coaching staff in Jacksonville.
Brown started all 17 games in his lone season with the Jaguars last year, with 57 total tackles and two sacks. A first-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2015 (32nd overall), he also spent two seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2019 and 2020).
According to Pro Football Focus, via SI.com, Brown was No. 6 among qualifying defensive lineman in run stop percentage last year (11.5 percent). His overall grade/ranking from PFF was not so good, though–99th out of 108 qualifying interior defensive lineman.
Detroit Lions rumors: Malcom Brown could be a nice, familiar fit
Speaking of those two seasons with the Saints, Brown overlapped with Campbell and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn in New Orleans. He is also still only 28 years old, and has been pretty durable in his career (seven games missed, three apiece in two seasons).
I'm intrigued by this for the #Lions.
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) August 18, 2022
Brown (age 28) spent 2019 & 2020 with the Saints, (Campbell and Glenn). He started 29 games at nose tackle and was solid against the run. Last season in JAX he struggled (still started 17 games) but didn't fit with new staff.
Reclamation? https://t.co/SUSoIFztks
Brown also has the size (320 pounds) the Lions were openly looking for (and are still looking for?) on the interior of their defensive line.
The Lions could certainly use a proven stout nose tackle to fortify a run the middle of a run defense that still looks vulnerable. Brown also seems to not be at the end of his useful line, unlike an incumbent defensive tackle for the Lions.
It of course will come down to what other suitors Brown has, along with his asking price. But the Lions should be in on him right out of the gate, and he may find it appealing to rejoin a couple coaches he knows a little.