Jaguars release veteran NT Malcom Brown, save $3M in 2022

Published Aug. 17, 2022 2:10 p.m. ET

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran defensive tackle Malcom Brown on Wednesday, a move that saves $3 million in 2022.

The 28-year-old Brown, the 32nd overall pick by New England in the 2015 draft, was entering the final year of a two-year, $11 million deal with the Jaguars. He was scheduled to count $7.5 million against the salary cap this season. Instead, he will cost $4.5 million in dead money.

Brown had fallen behind starting nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and second-year backup Jay Tufele, a fourth-round pick in 2021, on the depth chart. So his release was hardly surprising, especially with the Jaguars upgrading their defensive front by drafting pass rusher Travon Walker and signing defensive linemen Foley Fatukasi and Arden Key in free agency.

Moving on now gives Brown a chance to land elsewhere and possibly make a 53-man roster.

Brown started 17 games for Jacksonville in 2021, finishing with a career-high 57 tackles and two sacks. He spent four years with the Patriots before landing in New Orleans for two seasons (2019-20). The Jaguars traded a seventh-round pick in 2022 to the Saints for Brown in March 2021.

Brown's final practice in Jacksonville was one of the hottest and longest of the team's training camp and resulted in seven players leaving the field with heat-related issues.

Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris, guard Ben Bartch, tight end Chris Manhertz, center Darryl Williams, linebacker Rashod Berry and receivers Tim Jones and Willie Johnson dealt with cramps or dehydration during the 2 hour, 20 minute workout at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville.

All of them ended up in the “cool zone,” where team trainers and medical personnel worked to get them out of shoulder pads, in front of high-powered fans and feeling better out of Florida's sweltering summer heat and humidity.

“That's one of the hotter ones we've had,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. “That was a long one today.”

A potential cause of the heat issues: the Jaguars went a week between daytime practices. They practiced last Wednesday at the high school, had a walkthrough Thursday, a home exhibition Friday night against Cleveland, enjoyed two down days Saturday and Sunday and then practiced at night Monday before another day off.

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