2020 NFL Mock Draft: Post-2019 college football season edition

7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, IDL, Auburn

Derrick Brown’s fall has lasted long enough as he is picked up by Carolina. This is a need for the Panthers, a team that allowed 5.2 yards a carry this year. Any help to stop the run would be greatly appreciated, and that’s exactly what Derrick Brown does well.

Brown’s year wasn’t necessarily quiet in terms of what he did for the Auburn Tigers, but I believe it wasn’t talked about enough in the media. He was a major part of any strategy against Auburn’s defense, and it wasn’t enough more times than it was. His speed off the snap can disrupt any inside rush, leaving his teammates available to clean up.

I know that interior defensive linemen aren’t necessarily hot commodities, but they’re still a need for the Panthers. Brown can check that box and let Matt Rhule build around the rest of his team with the other picks.

Carolina is a tough team to predict since we haven’t seen any of their new heads in these positions. Perhaps they would like to pay the offensive line and take a skill player to help out whoever their quarterback is. They might even reach on an offensive linemen. They’re also a possible trade partner to jump Miami and take Tua. We just don’t know. With that uncertainty, I’m going to give them one of the best players in this class at a position of need.