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NFL Mock Draft 2015: Detroit Lions Select Malcolm Brown

With the 23rd pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions (represented by Khannar) select...

Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

The Detroit Lions have a handful of positions they could address with the 20th pick in the draft.  They are very low on running backs, with our friend Reggie Bush leaving for the 49ers, leaving Joique Bell as the only veteran back, supported by Theo Riddick, who showed promise as a receiving option out of the backfield.  However, this is a deep draft for a running back, with options such as Jay Ajayi, Ameer Abdullah, and Tevin Coleman available in later rounds.  The offensive line could also be addressed, but they have enough pieces there, with Riley Reiff and Larry Warford, with a decent crop of linemen also available in later rounds, such as A.J. Cann and Cedric Ogbuehi.  However, the biggest hole here is the one left by standout defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who took his talents to South Beach and the Miami Dolphins.  With the 20th pick in the 2015 draft, I have the Detroit Lions filling this hole with Texas defensive tackle Malcolm Brown.

The Lions took several hits to their defensive line this off-season, losing Suh, Nick Fairley, and C.J. Mosley this off-season.  Suh is one of the top two defensive linemen in the league, and his presence in Detroit will not be replaced.  However, Brown can fill this hole and become standout defensive tackle in his own right, maintaining the strength the Lions have at the position.  He's very athletic and nimble for a man who weighs around 315-325 pounds, showing quick feet and good redirection skills in drills.  He produced well in college, garnering 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 64 tackles last year, along with 12 tackles for loss, 68 tackles, and 5 pass breakups the year prior.  He started every game in both the 2013 and 2014 seasons, showing that he is a durable and does not have injury issues.  Brown also has versatility, playing several positions in Texas' various fronts.

He also enters a favorable situation in Detroit personnel wise.  During the off-season, the Lions obtained Haloti Ngata from the Ravens.  Ngata has been one of the dominant defensive tackles in the game for a very long time, and while he may be at the end of his career, he still is able to hold is own as a nose tackle.  Not only will Brown have the benefit of playing next to him, he will also be able to learn from one of the best in the game:  one of Brown's weaknesses is his seeming lack of pass rush moves and technique, which I'm sure he will be able to learn from Haloti Ngata.  He will also have the benefit of playing alongside defensive end Ziggy Ansah, a very solid player who has a very bright future ahead of him at the position.  This will create mismatches all across the line, as you cannot double team everyone.

Brown will be a standout for the Lions off the field as well, as he is very mature, being married with two children, and volunteering for an organization for families who have children with cancer or have lost children to cancer called Adam's Angels.

While Brown will most likely not be able to fill Suh's shoes, he has the maturity and ability to become an immediate player on the defensive line in Detroit, as well as the potential of becoming one of the dominant defensive linemen in the league.

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Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this year's community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.

Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2015 CSC Community Mock Draft Hub.

Pick Team Selection Team Representative Approval Rating
1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston - Florida State
Hans Petersen 82%
2 Tennessee Titans DE Leonard Williams - USC Tee Word 85%
3 Jacksonville Jaguars DE Dante Fowler - Florida Khannar 80%
4 Oakland Raiders WR Amari Cooper - Alabama arcuate 73%
5 Washington Redskins DE Randy Gregory - Nebraska Lostastic 29%
6 NY Jets OLB Vic Beasley - Clemson BlackandGold4ever 52%
7 Chicago Bears LB Shane Ray - Missouri saintmanumit 28%
8 Atlanta Falcons DE Bud Dupree - Kentucky Dave Choate 46%
9 NY Giants NT Danny Shelton - Washington GoFastTurnLeftMaybeRight 60%
10 St. Louis Rams OT Andrus Peat - Stanford Kevin Sean Held 46%
11 Minnesota Vikings WR Kevin White - West Virginia gulf shores 60%
12 Cleveland Browns QB Marcus Mariota - Oregon ryan_la_sports07 68%
13 New Orleans Saints CB Trae Waynes - Michigan State Dave Cariello 57%
14 Miami Dolphins RB Todd Gurley - Georgia Ralph Malbrough 30%
15 San Francisco 49ers DE Arik Armstead - Oregon The Irish Assassin 31%
16 Houston Texans WR DeVante Parker - Louisville
quickdrawdoc 77%
17 San Diego Chargers OT La'el Collins - LSU LeedsSaint 66%
18 Kansas City Chiefs WR Dorial Green-Beckham - Missouri jmcmillan_93 46%
19 Cleveland Browns TE Maxx Williams - Minnesota ryan_la_sports07 46%
20 Philadelphia Eagles S Landon Collins - Alabama Matt Mosley 53%
21 Cincinnati Bengals OT Ereck Flowers - Miami coldpizza
22 Pittsburgh Steelers CB Marcus Peters - Washington whodatgermany
23 Detroit Lions DT Malcolm Brown - Texas Khannar
24 Arizona Cardinals
saintmanumit
25 Carolina Panthers
Jake White
26 Baltimore Ravens
quickdrawdoc
27 Dallas Cowboys
arcuate
28 Denver Broncos
Ryne Hancock
29 Indianapolis Colts
Alex Lyles
30 Green Bay Packers
Matt Mosley
31 New Orleans Saints
Dave Cariello
32 New England Patriots
Whit Prottsman