DT Derrick Brown
First-round picks are always under pressure to make a difference right away, especially those taken in the top 10. Selecting a defensive tackle that early is not a good use of draft capital, though. While we can’t blame Derrick Brown for that, he’ll still be expected to step up in a significant way. We know that Brown is going to be a great run stopper in the NFL. However, in order to live up to being picked that early, Brown will have to shed concerns about his athleticism and his ability as a pass rusher. The Panthers need him to draw attention and double teams away from Kawann Short and Brian Burns if their pass rush is going to continue to be a strength.