As the 2025 NFL regular season nears, attention turns to player rankings ahead of kickoff. CBS Sports.com recently published their Top 10 lists for interior defensive linemen, including defensive tackles, but Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown was notably absent from the top 10, despite an outstanding 2023 season. The Panthers are preparing to face the Cleveland Browns Friday night in their second preseason game of the year.
Derrick Brown’s Outstanding 2023 Season and Career Impact
Selected seventh overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Derrick Brown quickly established himself as a key force on the Panthers’ defensive line. Brown’s 2023 campaign was his best yet; he started all 17 games and recorded 103 tackles, placing second on the team. Along with two sacks, an interception, and six passes defensed, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection on a Panthers squad that managed just two wins. His performance demonstrated his value as a dependable and disruptive presence in the defensive front.
How Injury Affected Brown’s Ranking Prospects
Despite Brown’s strong 2023 season, his exclusion from CBS Sports’ Top 10 list is believed to stem from his injury during the first week of the 2024 season against the New Orleans Saints, which sidelined him for the entire year. Although the CBS committee granted Brown a single vote, he did not make the final list, reflecting concerns about his recent availability. However, Pro Football Focus provides a contrasting perspective by ranking Brown seventh among interior defensive linemen ahead of 2025, highlighting his ongoing respect among analysts.
Implications of Brown’s Ranking and Outlook for Panthers
Derrick Brown’s omission from CBS’s Top 10 defensive tackle list adds a layer of intrigue as the Panthers enter the new season. His previous production and current ranking by other analysts suggest that, once fully healthy, he remains one of the league’s elite interior defenders. Panthers fans and team leadership will likely monitor his recovery closely, hoping Brown can return to the field and help improve a defense that missed his influence in 2024. The anticipation around his impact in the upcoming season underscores the significance of this ranking debate.