NFL Rumors: Derrick Brown, Panthers Agree to 4-Year, $96M Contract Extension

The Carolina Panthers and defensive tackle Derrick Brown reportedly agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract extension Friday.

The deal includes $63.2 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Brown, a 2020 first-round pick, made his first Pro Bowl in 2023 after recording a career-high 103 tackles and two sacks.

The $24 million annual average in Brown's new contract ranks him fourth among defensive tackles. Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs), Christian Wilkins (Las Vegas Raiders) and Justin Madubuike (Baltimore Ravens) all signed richer contracts this offseason.

Brown was slated to earn $11.7 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract. Taken with the seventh pick of the 2020 NFL draft, Brown has played in 66 of a possible 67 games during his career. He was also on the field for 89 percent of Carolina's defensive snaps last season.

Pro Football Focus gave Brown a stellar 90.1 overall grade for the 2023 campaign and ranked him as the fourth-best defensive lineman in the NFL.

The Panthers remain in the midst of a full-scale rebuild without much hope for next season after handing the No. 1 pick in April's draft to the Chicago Bears. However, Brown is a foundational piece in their front seven and should remain an anchor moving forward.

The new contract takes Brown through the 2028 season, at which point he'll be 30 years old.