2020 NFL Mock Draft: Full first-round mock plus all Redskins picks
Defensive Lineman. Arizona Cardinals. Derrick Brown. 8. player. 32.
Throughout the draft process, Derrick Brown hasn’t gotten the love that he deserves. The defensive tackle is in the running to be the second-best defensive player in this draft behind Chase Young, but he’s often overlooked in that discussion.
Over the course of the past two seasons at Auburn, Brown logged 102 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. He was a disruptive presence in the middle of the defense and did a lot to impact and pressure opposing quarterbacks.
Brown (6-foot-5, 322 pounds) has imposing size, solid athletic ability, and looked good on tape and in drills at the combine. He should be a top-10 pick and unless Javon Kinlaw leapfrog him on draft night, his floor is probably at No. 9 to the Jaguars.
That said, Brown makes a ton of sense for the Cardinals. While tackle has been a popular pick for the Cardinals here, they may wait to address that position in a deep class, especially after re-signing both D.J. Humphries and Marcus Gilbert this offseason. Besides, Brown is the best player available and he fills a need in Arizona.
The Cardinals have promising third-round pick, Zach Allen, on the defensive line and they added Jordan Phillips in free agency as well. But aside from those two, the team doesn’t have much. Veteran Corey Peters is a fine rotational play, but at 31, his best days will soon be behind him, so having him in a rotational capacity may be best for the squad.
Either way, Brown would be an upgrade. And giving him a chance to occupy blockers while playing alongside Chandler Jones could afford the Cardinals to generate a lot of pressure in 2020.