The Jacksonville Jaguars raised quite a few eyebrows on Thursday when they announced the release of veteran defensive tackle Malcom Brown. The move is surprising considering that Brown was a starter for the Jags and had his best year as a pro in 2021.
Brown started all 17 games last season and contributed with career-high 57 tackles. He also had 2.0 sacks and one pass deflection.
With the release of Brown, the Jags will save $3 million against the cap but will also get $4.5 million in dead money. However, it seemed that Jacksonville didn’t mind the cost if it meant the opportunity to give their younger player a more prominent role.
The team’s young guys DaVon Hamilton and Jay Tufele are reportedly having a great training camp, and it appears the Jags are convinced they can man the position without a veteran presence. Hamilton is a former third-round pick from 2020 who has 76 tackles and 2.0 sacks on his resume. Jacksonville drafted Tufele last year, but the USC product had limited playing time in 2021 due to injuries.
Malcom Brown entered the league as a first-round pick by the New England Patriots back in 2015. He spent four years with the Pats, mainly as a starter, and helped the franchise win two Super Bowls. Brown also spent two seasons with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to Jacksonville ahead of the 2021 season.
