Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown emerging as potential stud
By Dean Jones
Derrick Brown is emerging as a potential stud for the Carolina Panthers.
There were plenty of fans who wanted the Carolina Panthers to go in a different direction with the No. 7 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Clemson’s stud linebacker Isaiah Simmons fell out of the top-five and was available. But the decision-makers stuck to their guns and took Derrick Brown with their first-rounder.
This has been the right call in no uncertain terms. Brown has been a revelation on the defensive line interior after taking his time to settle at the next level and the Carolina Panthers finally have the sort of dependable presence in this area of the field that’s been missing since Kawann Short began his torrid luck with injuries over the last two years.
As the old saying goes.
Out with the old and in with the new.
Not having Short alongside him prominently did impact Brown during the initial stages of his transition to the pros. But there appears little doubt that the former Auburn standout has really come of age as the season’s gone on.
The sky is the limit for Brown if he develops his game during what is hopefully going to be a less disrupted offseason period in 2021. Any lingering doubts about the pick have been well and truly quashed and it comes as no surprise that Carolina’s defense began to make strides once their imposing defensive tackle found his feet.