Con: Pass Rush
While stopping the run is still a factor in today’s NFL, rushing the passer is what makes an interior defender special. Brown is not bad in this area and has the potential to get better here; it still is one of the reasons teams might not have him in the top ten.
this is just a very basic snapshot of disruption production but
ed oliver – 53.5 TFLs (LOL)/13.5 sacks in 32 college games
quinnen williams – 26 TFLs/10 sacks in 26 games
derrick brown – 33 TFLs/12.5 sacks in 46 games
— charles (TBD) mcdonald (@FourVerts) March 1, 2020
Brown doesn’t have that much of a pass rush plan and depends on the bull rush because of his top-notch play strength. In the NFL, though, guards are not as easy to just lift off the ground and push them back into the quarterback. You are going to need more moves to get past the top guards in the league or even just offensive lineman who are stable.
Brown has an upside in this area, but it still an area of concern. Will he ever be a 10-sack player at the defensive line position? It is a provocative question that won’t be answered until we see him on the field.
Con: Athleticism
For the NFL being a great athlete is just as important as your technique. We don’t see too many players who are not great athletes to become superstars in the NFL. Brown’s athletic ability is very worrisome and might be the main reason the Raiders even have a chance at the star defensive tackle.
Brown combine was awful from a workout standpoint. While he was explosive in all his drills, his 3-cone was one of the worst we have seen for a defensive tackle at 8.22. This number comes back to his ability to convert to a dynamic pass rusher when he joins an NFL team. You need athleticism to add different pass rush moves to your repertoire to become a real star at the next level.
Could this trait be overrated for his position? For sure, but it is still a huge red flag when it comes to thoroughly evaluate Brown’s prospects as a future starter in the league.
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