New England Patriots: 5 player storylines to watch during training camp

Malcom Brown

Considered the team’s best defensive tackle in 2018, Malcom Brown is a player who typically slides under the radar.

Drafted in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Brown entered the league with expectations of filling the void left by Vince Wilfork.  While he has had his moments, he hasn’t been consistent up until last year.

So, why is he a storyline to watch?

With the amount of depth the New England Patriots have at the defensive tackle position, Brown will be in a competition to keep his role as a starter along the defensive line.  That, combined with the fact the team did not pick up his 2019 fifth-year option, could indicate a surprise trade prior to the start of the 2018 season.

While it appears the team’s decision not to pick up the option was based on the size of the salary cap hit, the Patriots might need to see Malcolm Brown prove it for another season before trying to lock him up long-term.

However, with the addition of Danny Shelton and the return of Vincent Valentine –both potentially cheaper options – Brown could be expendable as the team would look to get something now instead of losing him via free agency in 2019.

Still, it will be intriguing to see how Malcolm Brown performs during training camp.  If Shelton or another player leap frogs him in number of defensive snaps, Brown could be a player on the move.