All eyes are currently on Carolina Panthers impending free agent pass rusher Brian Burns, but defensive tackle Derrick Brown might end up being the one to receive a massive contract. Originally selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown failed to live up to expectations early in his career. However, he eventually turned it around, establishing himself as one of the best interior linemen in the game over the past two seasons.
In 2022, Derrick Brown started playing like a man deserving of a contract extension. Starting in all 17 games, the defensive tackle finished his season with one sack, 67 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and 12 quarterback hits while clogging up run lanes and freeing up space for linebackers to make plays.
The Auburn product’s impressive season convinced the Panthers to activate the fifth-year option on Derrick Brown’s contract. This was a wise decision, as he was even better in 2023. Once again starting in all 17 games, Brown was the lone bright spot on an otherwise terrible Panthers team, making the Pro Bowl and setting an NFL record with 103 tackles as a defensive lineman.
Derrick Brown is still under contract for one more season, but the Panthers are hoping to sign him before he hits free agency. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan has had “conversations” with Brown’s agent and hopes to come to terms on a long-term deal.
Panthers Actively Trying To Sign Derrick Brown to Long-Term Contract (Report)
It’s easy to see why the Panthers would like to have Derrick Brown under contract for the foreseeable future. As a team in the midst of a long rebuild, Carolina needs to find foundational building blocks for the long-term vision of the team. While there is a lot of work to be done, Brown and edge defender Brian Burns are talented enough to be two such foundational pieces.
Derrick Brown doesn’t rack up sacks, but he should still get a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid interior defenders in the game. His record-breaking number of tackles was no fluke, and advanced metrics speak to just how good he is. According to Pro Football Focus, Brown’s 90.1 overall grade was the fourth-best mark out of 130 eligible players. While he is at his best in the run game, his 78.1 PFF pass rush grade is still well above-average.
Making the Money Work
Derrick Brown is going to receive life-changing money on his next contract, but can the Panthers afford to hand it out? Right now, the team has $36.1 million in cap space, but they will lose a good chunk of that if they use the franchise tag on Brian Burns. While signing homegrown talents is obviously important, the Panthers also need to set some money aside to sign free agents to help the offensive side of the ball.
Because of this, one might think that the Panthers can’t afford to give Derrick Brown a new contract at the moment. However, there is a way for them to give Brown a new deal and lower his cap hit. As of this posting, Brown carries an $11.65 million cap hit, but Carolina can clear up an additional $8.43 million in cap space with an extension, per OverTheCap. While this will increase his cap hit down the line, it’s a price worth paying for one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game.
Main Photo: Albert Cesare – USA Today Sports
