2020 NFL Draft: 5 first-round targets for the Carolina Panthers

1. Derrick Brown, IDL, Auburn 

Okay, let’s get the obvious one out of the way. The player that is mocked the most to the Carolina Panthers is Auburn interior defensive lineman Derrick Brown. He’s an extremely dominant player who would be an amazing building block for that defense.

I’m not sure if all Panthers fans are sick of seeing him mocked to them, but I sure am. I understand the type of player Brown is. He is a very safe pick and likely has a higher success rate than any of these prospects on this list. However, it would be fun to see some more risk-taking every now and again.

Now, back to Derrick Brown. He’s a massive human being at 6-foot-5 and 326 pounds with the ability to move like a man 100 pounds lighter. He’s very strong and disruptive at the point of attack, but his quickness sets him apart from other prospects at his position. In 2019, Brown had 54 total tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss with four sacks. He has the potential to increase his sack numbers as he develops into more of a pass rusher.

At the beginning of his career, Brown could create a lot of pressure early which is a very good thing, but he’ll need to learn how to finish the job. Hustle is not an issue in Brown’s game as he will fight through the whistle on every snap. If Brown is ultimately the selection for the Carolina Panthers at No. 7, there will be no hate from me.