CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Derrick Brown joined the Panthers as a first-round pick in 2020, he arrived in Charlotte in the midst of a global pandemic. Brown was subject to daily COVID-19 testing, virtual meetings and empty stadiums — a far cry from the filled-to-the brim SEC behemoths he played in at Auburn.
It was a tough time to move to a new city. Brown said he and his wife didn’t meet many people outside of their neighbors. His work situation wasn’t great, either. While the COVID restrictions eased and the world returned to normal, key members of the organization kept leaving.
Brown played for four defensive line coaches in four years and watched as the Panthers traded the three first-round picks who preceded him — Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore and, most recently, edge rusher Brian Burns. No one would have blamed Brown if he’d kept a spare suitcase in his locker at Bank of America Stadium.
Instead, the son of a former Army man who was part of an Airborne Division kept his head down and did his job. “It happened. It is what it is at this point,” Brown said of all the turnover. “But I’m excited to hold my place here and just keep working.”
Derrick Brown’s first splurge purchase after new contract: A pool in the backyard. pic.twitter.com/khL7UeIppx
— Joe…
