The Carolina Panthers have signed defensive tackle Derrick Brown to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million, with $63.165 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid players in his position in the NFL. Brown’s average annual salary of $24 million ranks fourth among defensive tackles, trailing only Jones, Wilkins, and Madubuike.
Brown’s performance has been impressive, setting a Panthers record for tackles by a lineman in 2022 and further excelling in the 2023 season under the team’s new defensive scheme.
He recorded a remarkable 103 tackles and led the NFL with a 47% run-stop-win rate, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Despite his size at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Brown rarely left the field, participating in 89% of the Panthers’ snaps.
Selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown has amassed 245 tackles and eight sacks over his four-year career with the Panthers. With this contract extension, the 25-year-old is now tied to Carolina through the 2028 season, providing stability and continuity to the team’s defensive line for years to come.