First round: Carolina picks Derrick Brown No. 7 overall in 2020 NFL Draft

First round: Carolina picks Derrick Brown No. 7 overall in 2020 NFL DraftFirst round: Carolina picks Derrick Brown No. 7 overall in 2020 NFL Draft

Derrick Brown drafted in the first round with the seventh pick to the Carolina Panthers.Derrick Brown watching the NFL Draft on Thursday, April. 23, 2020 in Atlanta, GA.Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Derrick Brown began what could be a record-setting draft for Auburn Thursday when the Carolina Panthers picked the unanimous All-America defensive lineman with the No. 7 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Holding his 1-year-old son in his lap, Brown celebrated his achievement with his family at their home in Sugar Hill, Georgia.

"To finally be able to see my dreams come true, I waited a long time just to have this special moment, being able to spend it with my family, it meant the world to me," Brown said. "Under the circumstances, we weren't where we originally planned to be in Vegas, but God willing, I was able to be here with my family and everyone was able to be healthy."

Brown is Auburn's first defensive player to be picked in the top 10 since Carlos Rogers went ninth overall in 2005, one of Auburn's four first-rounders that year.

"Derrick's a dominant player. He's dominant against the run, dominant against the pass," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "He's like a coach on the field. He's smart, he's durable. They're getting the complete package with Derrick Brown."

The 6-5, 318-pound, three-year starter finished his Auburn career with 13 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss and 170 tackles while regularly drawing double teams.

"Auburn prepared me for this moment," he said. "I never changed who I am. I've only learned how to work harder, so when I go to Carolina, that's exactly what I plan on doing."

"I thought he played with tremendous effort in every game that I watched," NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. "I saw him pursuing plays all the way across the field. He can really reset the line of scrimmage with his power."

If pre-draft projections hold true, Auburn could break its record of six draftees in the seven-round draft era, set last year.

Brown projected to be a first-rounder last year, but chose to return to Auburn for his senior season, a decision that allowed him to complete his degree from Auburn University's Harbert College of Business, serve as a team captain and be near his son, Kai.

"I'm definitely more prepared for it," Brown said after his Auburn Pro Day workout on March 6.

Brown scoffed at NFL Scouting Combine critics who equated times in drills to on-field production.

"If you care about the 3-cone drill as much as handling a double team, then go for it," he said. "It doesn't tell you anything about how you play football. The tape does all the talking for you."

Brown's four-season body of work at Auburn provided all of the video evidence the Panthers needed. He is the first Auburn player to be picked by Carolina since running back Cameron Artis-Payne in the fifth round in 2015. The Panthers drafted Auburn's Cam Newton No. 1 overall in 2011.  

"I'm excited to be a Panther," Brown said. "It was talked about. It's a dream come true. I'm excited to be able to call Carolina my new home. They're getting a true dog on the field, and somebody they can trust off the field." 

Brown dominated in 2019, winning the SEC's defensive lineman of the week award three times. He won the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Senior CLASS Award, and was a finalist for the Outland, Nagurski and Bednarik awards.

"We're very excited for Derrick," Malzahn said. "We're very excited for Derrick's family. He had a chance last year to probably be a first-rounder. He chose to come back, now he's the No. 7 overall player."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer