Derrick Brown has already earned the kind of respect that usually comes with a much louder spotlight.
ESPN slotted the Carolina Panthers defensive tackle at No. 5 in its DT rankings, and one veteran NFL assistant coach didn’t hold back when describing why Brown draws so much attention. “We actively ran our running plays completely away from him,” a veteran NFL assistant coach said.
“That's how good he is. The only reason he's not a household name is that he plays in Carolina.”
That kind of praise fits the season Brown just put together. He played all 17 regular-season games for Carolina and finished with 5.0 sacks, 33 solo tackles, five tackles for loss and 11 QB hits.
Entering next season, his career totals sit at 13.0 sacks, 169 solo tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 59 QB hits. Brown was the seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Auburn.
Brown also got another nod in late June when he landed on the NFL Top 100 Players List at No. 90.
He welcomed the recognition, but made it clear his focus goes beyond individual praise. “I mean, to be within the top 100 guys in the best football league in the world, you can't hate something like that,” Brown said.
“But you know, now I just feel so many more team aspirations and so many more personal aspirations like, I'm glad to be a part of it.”
For Carolina, the bigger picture is even more demanding. The Panthers won the NFC South last season, then lost to the Los Angeles Rams at home in the wild-card round. They also finished with a sub-.500 record and needed help in Week 18 to take the division, which means Dave Canales and Co. still have to prove they weren’t simply taking advantage of the league’s weakest division.
The next step is obvious: win a playoff game. And after making the postseason last year, Carolina won’t be sneaking up on anyone in 2026.
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Jaycee Horn Looks Like A Star Until One Problem Shows Up
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Panthers Get National Respect But One Bryce Young Question Lingers
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The bigger question now sits at quarterback, where Bryce Young remains the franchises most important variable. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported the Panthers are not expected to push for an extension this offseason, choosing instead to take a wait-and-see approach as Youngs future with the team continues to unfold. For a club trying to prove last season was more than a one-year spike, that kind of patience says plenty about where the organization thinks the real uncertainty still lives. [Read more 🡒]