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According to the NFL Network, the New Orleans Saints have signed free agent defensive tackle Malcom Brown to a three year deal worth approximately 15 million dollars. The 25-yr. old Brown had played all four of his professional seasons with the New England Patriots, playing a key role on two Super Bowl championship teams.
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Originally the 32nd overall pick in the 2015 draft from Texas, Brown started twelve games as a rookie, tallying 48 tackles, 3 sacks, and recovering 2 fumbles. He started 51 of 60 regular season games with the Patriots, recording 8.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, recovering 3 fumbles and forcing another.
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The 6'2 320-lb. Brown is a space eater in the middle, and has good explosion off the snap. He fills a key void in the middle for a Saints team with some questions at the tackle position. Star Sheldon Rankins is expected to miss the first portion of the 2019 season after suffering an Achilles injury in the playoffs, David Onyemata may face a league suspension to start the year, and Tyeler Davison is an unrestricted free agent. Brown has underrated pass rushing ability, but won't be the disruptor that Rankins is, instead more suited to the run-stopping role filled by Davison. New Orleans may still address the 3-technique spot with another free agent or early in next month's draft, but Brown joins Onyemata, Taylor Stallworth, and Jay Bromley to give the team a powerful interior wall on their improved defense.