FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- The New England Patriots have drafted Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown with the 32nd and final pick of the first round Thursday night.
That position became a priority when Vince Wilfork, a five-time Pro Bowler, signed with the Houston Texans after spending all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Patriots.
At 6-feet-2 and 319 pounds, Brown is similar in size to Wilfork and started every game the past two seasons.
It's the second straight draft in which the Patriots took a defensive tackle in the first round.