NFL analyst believes Panthers should trade Derrick Brown this offseason

We bet you haven’t thought about this one yet . . .

NFL.com writer Adam Rank recently named a handful of top stars who he believes should be shipped away this offseason. Included in the bunch⁠—which also features the likes of wideouts Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs and Brandon Aiyuk as well as an old friend in Haason Reddick⁠—is Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown.

Yup.

Rank writes:

Brown is a solid piece, and you could reason that he should be considered the anchor for a young defense. But his contract is up after the coming campaign. Do you see the Panthers, fresh off a 2-15 disaster of a season, legitimately competing in 2024?

The Panthers, who gave up a whole bunch to secure Bryce Young’s services in last year’s draft (including their first-round selection this April and second-rounder in the 2025 draft), need to restock the draft coffers with picks.

Not only did the big man just make the first Pro Bowl of his career, but he was also the lone representative from Carolina to make the trip to Orlando. That all-star selection was well-deserved, as Brown’s 103 tackles set a new NFL single-season record for a defensive lineman.

If the Panthers were to trade Brown, he’d be the organization’s third first-round pick of the last seven drafts to be sent off—joining running back Christian McCaffrey and receiver DJ Moore.

But for now, let’s maybe worry about another first-round pick who’s looking for a new deal.