5 Panthers players who quietly had great seasons in 2020
By Dean Jones
Derrick Brown – Carolina Panthers DT
Derrick Brown had more than his fair share of critics when then Carolina Panthers took him at No. 7 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Large sections of the fanbase wanted Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons after he fell out of the top-five. But head coach Matt Rhule and other evaluators were extremely impressed with the defensive tackle throughout the assessment process and they stuck to their guns.
This was the right call.
Brown has gradually emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the interior despite veteran Pro Bowler Kawann Short going down early in the campaign. Players occupying his position normally take some time to adjust to the next level and the former Auburn standout was no different.
However, what we’ve seen from Brown during the second half of the campaign has been nothing short of phenomenal. If he’s something under-the-radar at the moment, that won’t be the case for much longer if the lineman makes the necessary improvements to his game this offseason.
The player’s ability to eat up blockers and run stuff was there for all to see in college. This has made a smooth transition to the next level and given what Brown has shown regarding getting into the backfield consistently, he may very well be the complete package.
This was recently fired general manager Marty Hurney’s final first-round gift to the Panthers. And it was a good one.