Carolina Panthers: Ranking the top 5 players under 25

5. Derrick Brown – DT (age 22)

There is a chance that Derrick Brown is going to be much higher than No. 5 on this list next year. The Carolina Panthers took the stud defensive tackle No. 7 overall following a standout career at Auburn. And he has the potential to become their anchor on the interior for the next decade.

Brown possesses a rare gift of not only producing the goods individually. But he also has the real scope to make others around him better. The rookie eats up so much space and commands double teams on almost every down. So this will give some impressive-looking pass rushers around him plenty of room to work with.

It is hard not to root for Brown when one examines what sort of character he is. The player has a demeanor that easy to fall in love with. This is something that was clearly evident with Matt Rhule and general manager Marty Hurney, who lauded the impact of speaking with him at the Senior Bowl.

This played a significant part in the team sticking to their guns and taking Brown despite the presence of Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons on the board. Rhule made no secret of the fact he wanted to build the defense from the inside out. And the Panthers now have a supremely consistent prospect with a Pro Bowl ceiling that can lead the franchise back to prominence.