Former Texas running back Malcolm Brown is an unrestricted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, therefore he has the opportunity to sign elsewhere with another team.
Brown attended the University of Texas from 2011-2014 and totaled 2,678 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. Through the air, he added on 51 receptions for 382 yards and three touchdowns.
Brown has spent his entire professional career with Los Angeles. As an undrafted free agent in 2015, he was eventually signed to the Rams practice squad.
He made his debut in the final game of the regular season that year and held a spot on the roster for all five seasons of his career. In 2019, he earned a two-year extension worth $3.3 million.
Brown’s career has been mostly spent as a change of pace back with other running backs in front of him such as Todd Gurley, Darrell Henderson, and rookie Cam Akers. The best stretch of his career was his increase in playing time from 2019-2020 where he rushed for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns.
It’s possible that Brown could find his way back to Los Angeles, where he was used as the primary No. 2 running back behind Akers, but the team could opt to use Akers and Henderson (both on rookie deals) as cheaper options in the backfield to make up for all the money that’s being spent on the quarterback position.
Here are three potential teams, prior to the 2021 NFL draft, that could use Brown to improve their rushing attack and running back rotation.
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson loves to run the ball and seemingly likes to use a rotation of backs to do it. Miles Saunders and Boston Scott are going to be the main ball carriers, but they need that bruising, between-the-tackles back.
The Eagles are going to take a $33.8 million cap hit after the Carson Wentz trade, so they’ll have to nickel and dime their team in 2021 and Brown shouldn’t cost very much.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills have one of the best offenses and one of the most complete rosters in football. Their backfield at the moment is featured with Devin Singletary and Zach Woods, with Woods being the “power back.” More so, the biggest ball carrier on the team is actually their quarterback, which shouldn’t be a model to keep for too long.
If health is going to be an issue, depth will be all the more important. Even more so is a player who knows how to make it past the conference championship and can be a better short-yardage option.
Baltimore Ravens
J.K. Dobbins is the future of the Ravens rushing attack and Lamar Jackson is going to spearhead it no matter who’s back there. The Ravens have plenty of talent, but have holes they’ll need to fill and Brown can be a veteran player on a reasonable contract while the team allocates resources elsewhere.
Brining in Brown to be their short-yardage back can allow them to use cap and draft resources on more imminent places of need like wide receiver, linebacker, or edge rusher.