FOXBOROUGH -
The New England Patriots have selected defensive tackle Malcom Brown from the University of Texas with the final pick of the first round in the NFL Draft.
Brown, a 6'2", 319 lb. force in the middle, fits an immediate need for the defending champs, who allowed Vince Wilfork to leave in free agency after the 2014 season.
"Based on the players that were on the board, he was the best player for us," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "A combination of his talent, work-ethic, production, skill-set relative to what we're looking for - we felt like he was the best for us."
Brown was a 2014 finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy (most outstanding defensive player) and for the Outland Trophy (top interior lineman). He was a first-team All-American and was also named first-team All-Big 12.
Speaking with reporters in Foxboro via a conference call, Brown said, "You're about to get the best player you ever draft. Just be ready"
"He's quick on his feet, he's got good quickness," said Belichick. "I think for anybody to make that transition (to the NFL) it takes a lot of things. Hopefully he's got all the components that are necessary, or at least a lot of them.
"I mean, he's got a long way to go like every rookie does coming in. A lot of work to do, a lot to learn. It's a lot different in this league."
"I'm just relentless," said Brown. "I just want to be the best player I can be."
A report circulated around the time the Patriots were set to select in tonight's first round that a deal was in place with Houston that would see the Patriots exit the first round, but no deal ever transpired.
"We picked Brown," said Belichick.
Brown finished the 2014 season with 72 total tackles, including 39 solo tackles, with 6.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. He also recovered a fumble.
There is no set plan or expectation for how the team will use Brown, specifically.
"We'll see how it goes," said Belichick. "We have to bring him in here and teach him what we do, evaluate him relative to our other players and then we'll eventually get to game-planning and so forth and we're going to do what we think is best for the team with him and everybody else.
"It's not about one guy. It's about utilizing all of your athletes that we have. How it all works? I don't know. It might be different from game-to-game, it might not. We'll see."
The Patriots will pick again at the end of the second round tomorrow (64) and have two picks in the third round (96 and 97). They also hold the first pick of the fourth round (101), which will begin the selections on Saturday.
"It's the same as tonight," said Belichick. "A lot of teams are going to pick before we're even close to getting up to bat, so we'll do the best we can when we get our opportunity to go."
