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Carolina Panthers No. 3: Derrick Brown (DT)

Derrick Brown might not have played a down in the NFL. But it won’t take long for the defensive tackle to show just what an outstanding player he is.

The Carolina Panthers avoided all other temptations to select the former Auburn standout No. 7 overall. And this was swiftly followed by Brown signing a fully guaranteed deal worth $23.62 million.

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There is an exceptional amount of potential where Brown is concerned. He is a space-eating force on the interior. And he has a strong reputation for impacting the game in various different ways.

He comes into the NFL with a Pro Bowl ceiling and Brown might even make All-Pro one day if he exceeds expectations. At the very least, the player has a chance to be Carolina’s anchor for the next decade providing he stays clear of injury problems.

Brown’s partnership with Kawann Short in 2020 has the potential to completely transform the Panthers run defense. This was an area of the stats that drew significant concern last season. And having this pair together is going to make things very difficult for opposing running backs to get yards between the tackles.

Brown will have to show he has what it take to make a difference rushing the passer. This is something he didn’t get much chance to do at Auburn given the fact he was double or triple-teamed on almost every play.

All eyes will be on Brown next season as he looks to make his presence felt from the outset. And one suspects that the Panthers are going to like what they see from their first-rounder.