Derrick Brown – Carolina Panthers DT
Derrick Brown gets some unfair criticism for his opening two years in the league. This is down in no small part to where he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
Carolina didn’t select Brown at No. 7 overall for him to be a complimentary piece. They wanted the former Auburn standout to emerge as a foundational piece on defense and someone that could perhaps reach Pro Bowl or better capabilities given his outstanding athletic attributes.
Opposing teams were clued onto Brown right from the outset. He was among the league’s moist double-teamed players at the position as a rookie and this trend continued in 2021 to further hinder his chances.
Brown still had some extremely nice moments and his production overall was encouraging. But much more is anticipated heading into Year 3 of his professional career where we’ll find out just what to expect from the interior lineman moving forward.
Calling Brown a bust would be extremely harsh even if he couldn’t raise his game sufficiently. His talent is undeniable, but the Panthers have to do more to assist a player who is on his third defensive tackle partner in as many seasons since joining the team.
Not ideal, obviously. But there is no doubt Brown has been working exceptionally hard throughout the offseason to secure some lofty objectives.