5 young Panthers players who may beat out veterans in camp
By Dean Jones
Deonte Brown – Carolina Panthers OG
There aren’t many players on the Carolina Panthers that come with more intrigue than Deonte Brown this offseason. The sixth-round pick has all the makings of a productive starter on the offensive line interior in the coming years, but there are certain areas that need to be monitored closely where the former Alabama star is concerned.
Brown fell in the draft due to some character concerns and the fact his weight is a potential problem most teams just didn’t want to deal with. He is an absolute mountain of a man with the college production to match. So providing staff keeps him on the right track with nutrition and regular weigh-ins it should enable momentum to continue trending in the right direction.
If the player’s transition to the professional ranks is a smooth one, he might just be a candidate to start Day 1 against the New York Jets. Carolina isn’t blessed with many solid options in this area of the field and it represents an opportunity for Brown to come in and make his presence felt right from the start.
The Panthers obviously thought he was worth taking a chance on after spending the week with Brown at the 2021 Senior Bowl. There’s no doubt Matt Rhule also sounded out Nick Saban for a more detailed perspective on the lineman, who represents a significant upgrade on anything Carolina has at its disposal if he reaches his ceiling.