With The First Pick
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Matt Rhule has work cut out in 2020 NFL Draft 7-round mock

By Timothy Rodriguez

WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears in the first half at McLane Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears in the first half at McLane Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Derrick Brown #5 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play during the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Derrick Brown #5 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play during the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Round 1, Pick 7: Derrick Brown, IDL, Auburn

Rebuilds are done slowly and methodically. Teams typically start by building through the trenches and building from the inside out. Drafting players along the line of scrimmage allows teams to lay the foundation of the team they want to build. Drafting Brown at seven allows the Panthers to kickstart their rebuild and build through the trenches.

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The Panthers defensive line is aging fast. Gerald McCoy will be hitting free agency on March 18th. The previously mentioned Poe and Short are both over the age of thirty as well. Essentially, the entire Panthers defensive line serves them no use in the current condition of the team. While McCoy may be headed to the open market, it can be inferred that Poe and Short could be traded or released very soon.

This Panthers rebuild will be compared to the Miami Dolphins 2019 rebuild constantly throughout the 2020 season. The Dolphins followed a similar path in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Dolphins first two picks in the 2019 NFL Draft were trench players. In the first round they selected Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. In the third round, they selected Wisconsin guard Michael Dieter.

Derrick Brown is an absolute prize with the seventh pick. Offensive lines in the SEC can attest to how difficult Brown was to block. Brown may have tested poorly at the combine, but that is almost meaningless. The Auburn defensive tackle made play after play in the back field for Auburn for his entire career.

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