2020 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers Select DT Derrick Brown at No. 7

With the 7th pick of the 2020 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, the Carolina Panthers select...

Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

The selection and write-up were made by Your Friendly Neighborhood Esq:

The Carolina Panthers are beginning their rebuild this year after parting ways with veterans Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, and head coach Ron Rivera, among others. The Panthers brought in Teddy Bridgewater on a 3 year contract, which proves very smart given the way this draft has progressed. The Panthers have spent sizeable resources on the offensive side of the ball, bringing in Russell Okung at tackle and multiple pass-catchers, but they have not done the same amount of work on the defensive side of the ball.

Without Kuechly, the Panthers do not have a QB on defense, and Isaiah Simmons would absolutely be the pick here if he is available. However, without Simmons, the Panthers need to go for the next BPA on defense. That is Derrick Brown here. After losing McCoy and Poe, the Panthers’ interior defense is in desperate need of help, so it is great pairing of BPA and need. Derrick Brown will be a plug and play starter with Pro Bowl potential.

Pokorny: “The Panthers’ identity will be drastically different next year, with Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly gone. Derrick Brown is a good player, but it still seems a bit underwhelming in the whole grand scheme of things as to how the Panthers will get back to contention.”

The Arizona Cardinals are up next, led by brianberniebaker.