Derrick Brown could be part of a developing story in Charlotte. The last time the Carolina Panthers had a top 10 pick, they used it to draft Christian McCaffrey in 2017. Additionally, the last time the used a top 10 draft pick on a defensive player was in 2012 when the franchise selected Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly with the No. 9 overall pick.
Fast forward to 2020 and Kuechly is retiring as one of the best players in Panthers history. McCaffrey is one of the best and most versatile players in the NFL.
With the No. 7 pick in the upcoming draft, the Panthers once again have the opportunity to draft a game-changing talent to propel them into the next decade. There are a lot of good options out there for Carolina but there's a defensive lineman down at Auburn that the team should pull the trigger on.
Physical tools
There's a reason that Brown is considered by most as the top defensive lineman prospect in the 2020 draft class. Brown had to fight off double and even triple teams all year at Auburn. But, due to the physical attributes he possesses, he was still able to be a disruptive force for the Tigers.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and nearly 320 pounds, Brown is one big dude. Other than size, Brown has long arms and his elite hand usage allows him to get around just about any offensive lineman. If he can't overpower or out-technique you, Brown also has a relentless motor, elite-level quickness and impressive burst for his size and position. The Panthers badly need this.
Team need
Brown's aforementioned motor is one of his best quality and it allows him to be an absolute pest in defending the run. With the Panthers coming in as the 29th ranked run defense in the NFL this year, the team certainly needs someone who can shoot the gaps and just generally be disruptive in the middle.
The Panthers did well at getting to the quarterback this season. However, with the uncertainty surrounding players like Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe and Kawaan Short — new defensive coordinator could use some young blood and explosiveness up front.
With Kuechly now retired, the Panthers need to pick a prospect with All-Pro potential to lead the defense for the future. Brown is seen as one of the most complete prospects in the class and should make an immediate impact in blue and black.
Collegiate competition
The SEC is one of, if not the best conference in college football. The conference produces multiple NFL offensive lineman each draft class. Brown has been able to not only hold his own against but dominate most of them. Take note, Panthers.
There's a reason why the Auburn defense was able to play better against LSU than any other team in the country and Brown deserves a lot of that credit. Despite being double-teamed all game, the Auburn defensive tackle was able to showcase his incredible talent with seven tackles, two tackles for a loss and one sack. This is a lot of upside for the Panthers.
Watch some film on Brown and you'll see that some of his best performances were against some of the best teams in the country like LSU, Alabama and Florida. He's incredibly well-rounded as a prospect and has experience against the best competition in college football. Brown is an arguably a top-three talent in the class the Panthers could snag at seven.
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