2020 NFL Draft: Auburn DT Derrick Brown scouting report

Scouting report for 2020 NFL Draft prospect, Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown.

It is still early, but the 2020 NFL Draft appears to be an extremely strong class filled with big-time talent on both sides of the ball. The 2020 defensive line class may not be on the level of their 2019 counterparts, but there are a lot of interesting prospects up front who will make an impact at the next level.

Today, we are going to focus on Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Most expected Brown to enter the 2019 NFL Draft, but he coming back to school and will be a premier defensive line prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Brown is a big and powerful defensive tackle who can dominate with power on the inside. However, do not let his size fool you. Brown is an extremely quick and athletic one-gap penetrator who consistently make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Brown uses a quick first step to gain an immediate advantage over the opposing offensive lineman. He consistently puts the opposing offensive lineman in uncomfortable situations, gaining ground quickly with a good upfield burst. Brown also shows very good hand usage both as a run defender and a pass rusher. He has strong hands and places them well to keep opposing blockers off of his body.

The Auburn product has an impressive combination of size, power and athleticism, but he does not always make the most out of his natural abilities. Brown’s overall technique is lacking. Most notably, he struggles with pad level, commonly standing straight up off of the snap. Brown’s inconsistent pad level leads to him to lose leverage and get blown off of the ball far too often.

Brown has big-time upside, but he is never going to reach his ceiling if he can not fix his technique issues. His combination of speed and power up front is enticing and makes him a potential top ten pick for the 2020 NFL Draft. However, if he continues to struggle with pad level, he will likely be a fringe first-round prospect.