2020 NFL Draft: Putting a letter grade on all 32 first-round picks
Scouting Report. Auburn. Derrick Brown. player. 87. Pick Analysis. IDL. 7
This may have been the obvious selection for the Carolina Panthers, but that does not make it the wrong one. This team had a massive hole at the defensive tackle and Derrick Brown is one of the best defensive players in the 2020 NFL Draft class. I expected Carolina to seriously entertain trade offers, but simply standing pat and taking Brown also made a ton of sense for this team.
Brown was not impressive at the NFL Scouting Combine, but testing does not really show what he does well. This guy is just a big and nasty interior defensive lineman who always seems to make an impact on the play. He is never going to put up huge numbers, but Brown is always going to demand attention from the opposing offensive line.
Related Story. Analyzing Brown to Panthers. light
With a quick first step and impressive power at the point of attack, Brown can make an impact as a two-gap defender and one-gap penetrator. Whether he is attacking the quarterback or simply eating up blocks, Brown seemingly always gets the job done and often resets the line of scrimmage in favor of the defense.
The Panthers are undoubtedly in a bit of a rebuild situation and Brown is a guy who they can use to build their entire defense around. He is a rock-solid and dependable player who is going to make an impact in the NFL for a long time. Great pick by Carolina here.