{"id":230939,"date":"2025-10-21T22:14:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T22:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/230939\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T22:14:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T22:14:07","slug":"analyst-declares-no-nfl-dt-playing-better-than-panthers-star-derrick-brown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/230939\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyst declares no NFL DT playing better than Panthers’ star Derrick Brown"},"content":{"rendered":"

He was the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.<\/a> Auburn University defensive tackle Derrick Brown was a steady performer for the team during his first four seasons\u2014missing only one game over that span. <\/p>\n

Brown was simply tremendous in 2023. He finished second on the team with 103 tackles, to go along with a pair of sacks, one interception, and seven passes defensed.<\/p>\n

Of course, the 2024 season for Brown ended in Week 1<\/a> in 2024. The Carolina Panthers’ <\/a>defense never recovered from his absence. The Panthers allowed the most total yards and most rushing yards in the league. The team gave up 534 points\u2014the most in a single season in NFL annals.<\/p>\n

Brown is back, and in more ways than one. He\u2019s on course for another Pro Bowl campaign,<\/a> and perhaps even higher honors. Seven games into 2025, he\u2019s sixth on the club with 26 tackles, totaled a team-high three sacks and seven quarterback hits. He\u2019s second on the Panthers with five passes defensed, and has certainly impressed NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger.<\/p>\n

.@Panthers<\/a> @nyjets<\/a> @DerrickBrownAU5<\/a> no DT in this league is playing better; Sacks; Rejections; Body Tosses. #BaldysBreakdowns<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fr8Or9gnBT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The proof is in the pudding. Look at the Panthers\u2019 defense seven weeks into the season. Led by Brown, as well as a number of general manager Dan Morgan\u2019s offseason additions,<\/a> Carolina now ranks seventh in the league in total defense. Ejiro Evero\u2019s unit is eighth vs. the run. During the team\u2019s current three-game winning streak, the Panthers have allowed a total of 131 yards rushing. In 2024, Evero\u2019s defense allowed a stunning 179.8 yards per game on the ground. <\/p>\n

Finally, only Cleveland\u2019s Maliek Collins (89.8) has a higher grade than Brown (89.6) from Pro Football Focus<\/a> when it comes to interior defenders. He\u2019s also fourth when it comes to run-stopping, and sixth in terms of pass rush.<\/a> It\u2019s quite the start for a performer who could be in contention for Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades, and other awards as well.<\/p>\n

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