Derrick Brown said on April 21 that the Carolina Panthers have seen strong participation as voluntary offseason workouts began this week in Charlotte. The defensive tackle noted that new additions to the defense, including Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd, are raising expectations for the team following improvements last season.
The increased turnout at Bank of America Stadium comes after a year in which the Panthers advanced from lower league rankings to mid-tier status in both points and yards allowed. Brown emphasized the importance of integrating new teammates, saying, “I think they’re great additions to this team, right? Not only do we want good players, but great people, and both of those guys fit that category. It’s just, everybody comes in and does their job, and as long as you do your 1/11th, then we’re more than welcome to have you here.”
The team is focusing on strength and conditioning while building camaraderie ahead of the season. Phillips was brought in during free agency after Carolina tied for 28th in sacks last year with 30.0; he finished among the league’s top ten for quarterback pressure rate last season. “A lot, right?” Brown said when asked about Phillips’ impact. “I mean, the name of the game is get the quarterback… So I’m excited to see him go out there and go get it.” He added about recent success: “Being a part of that team and being a part of the moment… bringing that back to the city… having the crowd that we had in the playoff game, that was electric.”
According to the official website, Carolina has secured multiple division titles and playoff appearances over its history while playing home games in downtown Charlotte. The organization also supports community outreach efforts across North and South Carolina.
Brown described leadership within each position group as key: “Even from day one… you got your leaders in every room setting the bar every single day,” he said. “I think that’s the best way to show how we work here and bring everybody else along that way.” He concluded with optimism about his teammates’ motivation: “Guys are hungry, and I’m one of them… guys want to get better together.” The Panthers continue emphasizing building a championship culture while offering various ticket options for fans attending games at Bank of America Stadium according to their official site.
