Mel Kiper Projects Lions Taking Defensive Tackle Malcolm Brown In First Round
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Even if the Detroit Lions re-sign star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper may well be correct in his prediction that the Lions will take defensive tackle Malcolm Brown of Texas with the 23rd overall pick this year.
Along with Suh, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, the Lions have three other defensive tackles who are free agents - Nick Fairley, C.J. Mosley and Andre Fluellen. Brown, who stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and is listed at 317 pounds, could provide a boost to a unit that will lose talented depth this season even if it does not lose its star.
"Fortunately for them, the defense around Suh improved in 2014 under the direction of Teryl Austin, and there exists the opportunity to find help at defensive tackle in the draft," Kiper writes. "Brown is one option. While he won't provide the same pass rush Suh does (few can), Brown is an absolute beast against the run and will hold the point of attack. Like Suh, he's also proven to be durable."
Brown, who did not miss a single game for the Longhorns in 2014, was a consensus first-team All-America selection and a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive player, and for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's top interior lineman. In 2014 Brown totaled 72 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also forced two fumbles.
The Lions could have kept Fairley - who missed half this season with a knee injury - for another year, but before the 2014 season they declined to pick up his fifth-year option. General manager Martin Mayhew said the team had no regrets about that decision.
Detroit's defense ranked second overall this season, and the unit's success came in no small part from the dominance of the defense line.
For the rest of Kiper's mock draft, readers can follow this link. However, ESPN insider access is required.
