The Carolina Panthers and defensive tackle Derrick Brown have agreed to a four-year contract extension, the team announced Friday. According to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the $96 million deal includes $63.165 million guaranteed.
The $24 million per year average on Brown’s extension ranks as the fourth highest in the NFL for a defensive tackle, trailing only the Chiefs’ Chris Jones, Raiders’ Christian Wilkins, and Ravens’ Justin Madubuike, who all signed new contracts as free agents during the offseason.
Brown had a standout season in 2022, setting a Panthers record for tackles by a lineman with 67. He brought up his game even further last season after Carolina switched to a 3-4 defensive scheme under coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Brown recorded a defensive lineman-record 103 tackles and led the NFL with a 47% run stop win rate, according to ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Brown played in 89% of the Panthers’ snaps and was named a Pro Bowler for the first time.
The No. 7 pick in 2020, Brown has accumulated 245 tackles and eight sacks during his four-year career with Carolina. Brown, 25, had one year left on his contract and is now tied to Carolina through the 2028 season.