Fansided

5 players who Panthers need to be great in 2020

By Rucker Haringey

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Carolina Panthers interviews during the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Carolina Panthers interviews during the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 29: Defensive lineman Derrick Brown of Auburn runs a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Derrick Brown

The Panthers’ inability to stop the run is a big reason why the defense gave up 29.4 points per game last season. Selecting Brown in the first round of this season’s draft is the franchise’s first step towards solving that troublesome issue.

The former Auburn star will experience some growing pains as a rookie, but he’s going to play a ton of snaps at the defensive tackle position anyway. The Panthers know he has the potential to develop into an elite run stuffer. That will be priority one for Brown during his rookie campaign.

Of course, Carolina officials would like to see him show a little bit of pop as a pass rusher too. Seeing flashes of talent there would be a nice bonus for Brown in year one. He’ll need to add that to his game in time to justify his lofty draft status.

An underrated positive for Brown is that he should benefit from playing next to Kawann Short. If Short can effectively bounce back from the injury issues that derailed his 2019 campaign then defensive tackle could actually turn into a positive for this defense. No matter what, Brown represents the future at the position.

Home/Carolina Panthers