4 players the Panthers could have drafted instead of Derrick Brown

Derrick Brown remains a player with immense potential, but which players could the Carolina Panthers have drafted instead of the defensive tackle?

This upcoming season is easily the most important in the short professional career of Derrick Brown. Entering his third year in the league at the culmination of this season the Carolina Panthers’ top brass must decide whether or not to pick up the defensive tackle’s fifth-year option.

Brown has been solid if not spectacular in his two seasons in the league, registering 75 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and five sacks so far. While these stats aren’t bad by any means, it’s possible to argue that more should be expected from the No. 7 overall selection.

With the Panthers having to decide in 12 months whether or not they want to exercise this option on Brown, it’s looking to be a big 2022 season for the player. One in which he needs to prove to those in power he is an integral part of Carolina’s talented young defense long-term.

Brown has struggled in the pass rush, which isn’t unexpected considering how much the former Auburn stud is being double-teamed. The addition of Matt Ioannidis – a player with multiple 7+ sacks seasons – may help improve this statistical category as interior pressure on the quarterback has been a problem recently for the Panthers.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at four players the Panthers could have taken at No. 7 instead of Brown during the 2020 NFL Draft.