5 burning questions facing the Carolina Panthers OL in 2021
By Dean Jones
When will Deonte Brown be ready?
The Carolina Panthers didn’t draft Deonte Brown with a view to the player becoming a Day 1 starter.
It would be nice, obviously. But the former Alabama stud is seen as a development project that could slot in on the interior with a little more refinement in the coming months.
Brown is a gargantuan presence who was almost flawless for the Crimson Tide on their way to yet another national championship in 2020. Some analysts had him projected as a third-round pick before character and weight concerns reared their heads during the evaluation process, meaning he was available to the Panthers midway through Day 3.
Carolina’s staff will be keeping a close eye no only on Brown’s development, but his eating habits and conduct away from the team facility. However, head coach Matt Rhule claimed the player got a glowing recommendation from Nick Saban, who is one of the most respected figures in the college game and knows the lineman better than most.
This is a work in progress. Brown should make the roster, but whether he’ll be ready to see any meaningful reps will come down to his adjustments in a professional environment.
Watching how Brown gets on in the preseason should tell us more about just how long it’s going to take for him to contend for a starting spot.