What does Brown bring to the next level and is he a player the Jacksonville Jaguars could target in the top-10?
One of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ biggest strengths has become one of their most worrisome weaknesses during the 2019 season. The Jaguars started the season confident in a defensive line unit that was comprised of star defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell, rookie pass rusher Josh Allen, as well as Taven Bryan, Abry Jones, and Marcell Dareus up the middle at defensive tackle. A truly solid and deep unit of talented lineman.
While all but one of those players have been healthy enough to make it to this point of the regular season, the loss of the run-stuffing Dareus, to a core injury, has been evident in the team’s performances. Jacksonville hasn’t been able to stop the run and it has been a key reason as to why the Jags have been losing and losing big.
This offseason the Jaguars will be tasked with a difficult decision regarding Dareus: whether or not to release the talented but expensive big man. In 2020, Dareus carries a huge cap hit of 22.5 million. When considering that figure, the Jags will have to release Dareus (or rework a deal somehow). Regardless, he isn’t getting any younger, which means a plan for a replacement needs to be in place.
A potential heir is Auburn defensive tackle, Derrick Brown. Brown is regarded among the best players in the upcoming draft and it is easy to see why. On the season, Brown collected 11.5 tackles and four sacks, dominating the Southeastern Conference in remarkable fashion. Brown (6-foot-5, 318 pounds) is currently my second-best player in the class and would be an instant impact player on the Jaguars roster, shoring up the hole left by Dareus.
What does Brown bring to the next level and is he a player the Jaguars could target in the top-10?
Last season, I was enamored with top defensive line prospect Quinnen Williams, who ended up being drafted by the New York Jets. Williams was a game-changing defensive tackle, both a force in the pass and run game. Brown brings a similar level of disruption and nasty to his game.
Brown is one of the strongest players in the draft and it shows in his game. He is a force to be reckoned with. Against one of the best offensive lines in college football on a national stage, Derrick Brown wrecked shop on opening weekend against Oregon, a statement game for the young prospect.
In a goal-line situation, Brown made his presence known, blowing the right guard off the line into the backfield, disrupting the entire play.
Brown is a player teams must account for on every play due to his ability to easily terrorize the backfield.
Against Louisiana State, the nation’s top team, Brown again made sure Quarterback Joe Burrow was familiar with him. Brown long-armed the right guard back, walking him back into Burrow for the sack.
Simply put, Brown has become one of the draft’s most physical players and that’s exactly what you want to see out of your defensive tackle.
If all that doesn’t convince you of Brown being amongst the best in this year’s upcoming draft class, there is also the fact that the 318 pound DT is also pretty crafty as a pass-rusher. Below, in a game that just occurred a few weekends ago, Brown pulled off one of the most beautiful interior spin moves I’ve seen. A sight to behold.
Of the players that are likely to be on the board when the Jaguars are on the clock, Brown is the most dominant. Jacksonville has implemented a best available player approach the last few seasons and if they are to do it again, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Auburn’s big, sexy No. 5 be the selection. He would become an immediate starter and an immediate difference-maker.
For a team looking for its identity, Brown could be the player to return Jacksonville’s defense to being one of the most feared in the league. To me, he could have a John Henderson/ Marcus Stoud type impact, which is what’s been missing in Duval.
