In the 2020 Draft, the Panthers saw Auburn’s Derrick Brown as a solution to their interior defensive line, and they grabbed him with the seventh overall pick.  Pairing massive size with raw power, Brown quickly established himself as a dominant run-stuffer and interior push-collapser.

Brown relies on rare lower-body leverage, heavy hands, and unusual agility for a 320-pound nose tackle. Operating primarily as an interior 3-technique or nose tackle, his defining trait on tape is his ability to absorb and shed double-teams, clogging B-gaps to disrupt opposing run schemes while pushing interior pockets directly back into the quarterback's path.

After steady growth over his first three seasons, Brown produced a legendary campaign in 2023. Serving as the single most disruptive player on Carolina's front, Brown set the NFL single-season record for tackles by a defensive lineman with 103 total tackles (56 assisted) while adding 2.0 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 15 QB hits. His historic volume production earned him his first career Pro Bowl selection.

Brown faced adversity in 2024 when a torn meniscus suffered in Week 1 prematurely ended his season. He attacked his rehab and returned in full force for 2025, starting all 17 games and producing one of his most complete seasons. Brown logged 73 total tackles, a career-high 5.0 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and seven passes defensed while earning team Ed Block Courage Award honors for his dedication and comeback effort.

Heading into the 2026 season, Brown is one of the cornerstones of a rising franchise.