Derrick Brown Says Bryce Young Belongs In The NFL MVP Conversation
The 28-year-old was voted one of the top 100 players in the NFL, landing at No. 90 earlier this year. Brown already has a deep resume, having been named a Pro Bowler while also setting the NFL single-season record for total tackles by a defensive lineman (103).
Brown is also coming off his first playoff appearance last season, when the Panthers won the division title for the first time in a decade. The star defensive lineman took the time to sit down for a one-on-one interview to talk about the Panthers’ hot start to the season while partnering with USAA for a safe-driving event during National Teen Driver Safety Week.
Q: The Panthers are pretty hot right now. People are starting to talk about you guys. I know you guys made it to the playoffs last year, but what is the difference this year? Why are you guys so much better?
Brown: We’re just in a competition with ourselves. Coach always says, “Be the best version of yourself in everything that you do.” That’s where you find the ability of how far you can take the road to go, and we’re starting to hit that stride in which we just continue to rely on each other. We’re finding that grit, that ability to enjoy the game, and just that hard work within our realm.
Q: Is it pretty clear the confidence is on another level compared to last season?
Brown: I would say that the confidence is there, man. The humility is there as well, right? We’re not being arrogant about it. But I mean, the one thing that this team does a good job of is, one week is one week. We’re only as good as our last practice in our head. The last game doesn’t matter to any of us at this point.
Q: Obviously, one of the big topics is Bryce Young. This guy’s in his fourth year. He’s grown into being an elite quarterback. I don’t know if a lot of people saw that coming, but talk about Bryce and his growth. What has been the biggest difference?
Brown: I don’t know, man. He’s just continuing to be himself. He never, ever let anybody else dictate what he had going on. This guy — he shows up every single day, works his ass off, and he continues to just prove all those people wrong that doubted him. I’m smiling ear to ear watching him do it.
Q: What would you say is his best trait?
Brown: Just being a person that can find the good out of anything, right? Just figure it out, right? Like, something bad happened: “Hey, look, we got y’all. Don’t worry, we got you.”
Q: I know there are a lot of big names involved in the MVP race, and it’s pretty early on. But there’s no doubt in your mind that Bryce should at least be mentioned in the MVP conversation, right?
Brown: Yeah, if I had to vote, my vote goes to No. 9 for sure.
Q: What is his personality like? I’ve spoken to him before. I interviewed him during Super Bowl week a couple of years back. But what is his personality really like?
Brown: He’s quiet, laid back, man. He says what he needs to, when he has to, and he doesn’t say a bunch. He’s somebody to sit around and hang around and kick it with. His personality is kind of reserved. But at the same time, he is a guy that walks around and talks to everybody.
Q: We’re talking about Bryce, right? But the offense itself is ridiculously deep. It’s one of the top offenses in the NFL. I can keep going on and on. I can name Tetairoa McMillan and Chuba Hubbard, and add Darren Waller to the list. Talk about this offense this year, how dynamic it is.
Brown: It’s been dynamic. For the offense to go out there and have the execution they’ve had in the last few weeks — shout out to Brad Idzik (offensive coordinator), in his first year being a play caller, and him and Bryce being in the same realm. Getting the ball to Jalen Coker and T-Mac, and the offensive line holding on.
It’s just so many moving pieces. Tommy Tremble and the tight ends are playing such a big role, and I think just having him, Mitchell (Evans) and Darren, we got some pieces. That’s for sure. I just love to sit back and watch it at this point.
Q: What is the identity of this team? You guys won the division last year, but what is the key to doing so again this year? I think you guys have Tampa Bay this week.
Brown: We got a big division game coming up this week, and I think our identity falls within that hard work and that team full of grit. We’re not asking nobody to give us nothing, and we expect everybody’s best. I think when we go out on Sunday, it’s all about execution, right? So many games in the NFL come down to the last minute, to the last drives, and I think we want to be a team that is comfortable with that moment, comfortable in that moment.
If it’s going to be a dogfight, it’s a dogfight. If it’s a blowout, it’s a blowout. But as you know, not many blowouts happen in the league. I think, you know, we got that dogfight-and-grit mentality ready and within us.
Q: Like you’re saying, the key to winning this division — I know it’s early on — is executing in those key situations, especially against a division rival like the Buccaneers. They’re pretty tough and pesky.
Brown: Oh yeah, definitely. It’s funny, for a long time in my career, I’ve been on the team that’s been counted down and counted out. I know exactly what that feeling is like, and the anger and animosity that comes with it, right? They’re coming in here, they want to win, and they say, “Hey, this is happening. But you know what? Our season’s still ahead of us, and we beat the Panthers.” So, I think we got to look at it as we had a good win this week, but that’s put to sleep now. It’s Monday, and we’re already sitting here watching Tampa Bay’s film.
Q: What are the objectives for this season? Obviously, you knocked making the playoffs off your checklist last year. You guys almost beat the Rams. What are your objectives this season, both team and individual?
Brown: I don’t think either. I don’t think I have any for either, man. I think it’s just to put the best version of ourselves out on the field every single week, myself included, and see where this takes us. We got a team full of selfless guys, and I think at the end of the day, that’s what it takes to get farther in this game than we’ve been before.
Q: You were named one of the top 100 players in the league earlier this year. You obviously have the respect of your peers. You put up some monster numbers, some monster tackle numbers. What does it mean to you to hear that from your peers?
Brown: I’m definitely appreciative of it. I get to go against the best in the world every time I put my hand down and line up on a Sunday. I think, you know, it means a lot from them to me, and vice versa. I appreciate the respect, but at the end of the day, we’re all chasing the same goal. It’s work at the end of the day.
Q: When it comes to career objectives, would you say it’s to win a Super Bowl and keep getting better?
Brown: Yeah, I can’t even say win. I mean, everybody wants to win a Super Bowl, but you got to at least get to the second round of the playoffs. I think that’s where we stand right now. Get into the first round, and let’s see if we can get out of wild-card weekend and get to that second round.
Q: Who is the toughest offensive lineman in the league, and who is the best interior defensive lineman not named Derrick Brown?
Brown: I would say I like going against (Atlanta Falcons) offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom. He’s super quick off the ball, and luckily enough for me, I get to play him twice a year. He’s definitely one of those guys who makes their engine go over there.
I think Jalen Carter’s got a lot to his game right now. But I think it’s Zach Allen (when it comes to defensive linemen). Zach Allen, from where he started to where he is now — I like to just sit back and watch him, even with all the guys in the league. Seeing that guy, how he’s playing now and where he’s at, I think he’s made significant jumps.