Derrick Brown Overview
Position: Defensive line
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 326 lbs
Arms: 34 ¼”
Hands: 9”
School: Auburn
NFL Combine Performance Data
40 Yard Dash: 5.16 seconds
Three Cone Drill: 8.22 seconds
Bench Press: 28 reps
Vertical Jump: 27”
Broad Jump: 108”
Derrick Brown 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Playing for Georgia’s Lanier High School, Brown’s dominant senior season in which he recorded 106 total tackles and 12 sacks, earned him a five-star recruiting profile along with being a top ten nationally ranked prospect. Brown received numerous offers from high profile schools such as Wisconsin, Nebraska, Georgia, and Clemson before choosing Auburn.
Brown saw instant playing time with the Tigers as he appeared in all 13 games along with earning a selection to the SEC first-year Academic Honor Roll. He followed up his 2016 performance with a strong sophomore season where he started every game and again earned an SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. As a junior, Brown had a breakout season which concluded with him earning Second-Team All-SEC honors and a decision to return for his senior season. Brown had yet another dominant season, finishing his career with 170 total tackles along with 13 sacks. The performance earned Brown a unanimous All-American defensive tackle selection.
Strengths
- Outstanding frame and scary athleticism for his size;
- Strong hand fundamentals with a powerful punch and polished timing;
- Impressive quickness which allows him to frequently shoot gaps with success;
- Powerful player with a strong base and anchor which allows him to excel at two gapping;
- Huge tackling radius and wingspan which allows him to make tackles while still engaged with a blocker;
- Scary lateral flexibility and advanced toolbox of counter moves makes him a solid pass rusher;
- Amazing versatility and should be seen as a rare three down defender;
- High motor player with loads of competitive toughness.
Weaknesses
- Needs to be more consistent with extension in order to help shed blockers more easily;
- Put on about ten pounds since the end of his season;
- Awareness needs improvement which will develop with more repetitions;
- His height can cause high pad level at times;
- Is used to dominating with power and strength which will be put to the test against NFL level linemen.
NFL Comparison: Fletcher Cox
Teams With Need at Position: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans
Projection: Early to mid first round
Bottom Line on Derrick Brown
Brown is one of the most complete and talented defensive tackle prospects the NFL has seen in years. Simply put, there is nothing Brown cannot do when on the field and he should be a three-down defender at the next level. Brown possesses the frame, strength, and block shedding technique of an elite run-stuffer up front. Furthermore, Brown’s game has the athleticism, hand technique, and polished array of counter moves needed in order to be a dominant pass rusher.
Brown provides an instant upgrade at the defensive tackle position and is seen as a plug and play starter within any team’s defensive scheme. Additionally, Brown’s high motor, competitive toughness, and overall talent provide him with the rare opportunity to become the anchor within a defense both on and off the field. While Brown’s awareness could use some improvement, finding weaknesses with this player feels more knit picky than anything and Brown should be considered as one of the safest, high upside players within this draft.
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