The Carolina Panthers were one of four teams that did not send a single player to the Pro Bowl, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have a snub or two. At 2-14, it’s clear that the Panthers roster isn’t loaded with talent, and it’s no surprise that they didn’t send multiple players to the big event. However, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, one member of the Panthers should have earned the honor.
According to his article, Patra believes that defensive tackle Derrick Brown was the eighth-biggest Pro Bowl snub in the league, which is high praise considering just how many talented defensive tackles are out there. The NFL analyst specifically calls out Brown’s work against the run, noting that his 96 tackles are the second-most for a defensive lineman in NFL history. He’s more than just a one-trick pony, as he also has 31 quarterback pressures and 13 quarterback hits. However, should this production have been enough to justify a spot on the Pro Bowl roster?
Derrick Brown Listed Among Top Pro Bowl Snubs
Was Derrick Brown A Pro Bowl Snub?
While the actual game itself is a bit of a joke, earning a spot on the Pro Bowl roster is not easy. Each conference only sends three interior defensive linemen to the show, and the three that made it this year are Aaron Donald, Dexter Lawrence, and Javon Hargrave.
It should come as no surprise that Aaron Donald earned the top spot in the NFC Pro Bowl vote. After all, Donald is the best defensive player of his generation, and the seven-time First-Team All-Pro remains as dominant as ever. Even though he’s on the older side, the former first-round pick has eight sacks, 53 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, 23 quarterback hits, and the second-best PFF grade among defensive tackles (90.9).
Donald is still great, but Dexter Lawrence might be even better. One of the few bright spots on the New York Giants, the former first-round pick has recorded 4.5 sacks, 52 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, and 19 quarterback hits while being the only player to earn a higher PFF grade than Donald. If these two were the only ones to make the Pro Bowl, then Derrick Brown would not be a snub.
While those two are the best in the league, there is a strong case to be made that Brown should’ve earned a spot over Javon Hargrave. The first-year 49er might be a bigger name with more sacks, but Derrick Brown is a better all-around player. Hargrave struggles against the run, while Brown can hold his own on every single play. While Hargrave is a great player, Derrick Brown is having the better season, and that makes him a Pro Bowl snub.
The Future of Derrick Brown
While Derrick Brown might not be a Pro Bowler, he should be a foundational building block for Carolina. The Panthers have Brown under contract for one more season, but they should seriously consider extending him before the start of the 2024 season.
As of this posting, the Panthers have $39.97 million in available cap space, and not too many players to spend it on. Brian Burns is going to earn a massive paycheck, but they should have plenty of money left over to take care of Brown. In fact, Brown currently carries an $11.65 million cap hit for the 2024 season, so there is a real chance that an extension could lower his cap hit.
Defensive tackle is far from the most important position in football, and Derrick Brown cannot singlehandedly fix this organization. However, the rest of the league doesn’t realize how good Derrick Brown is, so they should lock up this Pro Bowl snub before he breaks the bank in 2025.
Main Photo: Morgan Tenzca – USA Today Sports
