5 Panthers draft picks who will have the biggest impact in 2021
By Dean Jones
Deonte Brown – Carolina Panthers OG
- 6th round -No. 193 overall
ESPN analyst Todd McShay best described Deonte Brown with the simple phrase “go and look up guard in the dictionary”, and he’s not wrong. The mammoth interior lineman is another who could be a high-value selection in the later rounds that could earn a Day 1 starting job for the Carolina Panthers and he arrives at the next level after becoming a dominant force for Alabama on their way to a convincing national championship victory in 2020.
According to Pro Football Focus, Brown was on the field for 916 pass-blocking snaps during his time with the Crimson Tide. He did not allow a single sack.
His production at the Senior Bowl in front of Carolina’s coaching staff must have impressed them enough to take a chance on him. The Panthers do have John Miller occupying the right guard position after he was brought back, but judging by what we saw from the veteran in 2020 it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world to see Brown assume command of the starting role in Week 1.
The lineman isn’t going to have things all his own way against more formidable opponents in the NFL. There is also the issue of his weight to keep a close eye on, but considering where the Panthers ended up taking Brown, this is a low-risk, high reward pickup and one that might bring some instant production.