The 2020 NFL Draft will forever be remembered for an influx of wide receiver talent, franchise quarterbacks, and a handful of defensive stars who have shaped today’s game. For the Atlanta Falcons, selecting cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. at No. 16 overall was viewed as a smart and necessary move for a defense that badly needed help on the back end.
Terrell, for the most part, has lived up to expectations, even if his play hasn’t always drawn the national spotlight. But what if the Falcons had a chance to do it all over again? That’s exactly what PFSN’s 2020 NFL Redraft explored this offseason. Atlanta’s re-pick didn’t involve another corner. It involved a major force in the trenches — the kind of player who can tilt games from the inside out.
How Derrick Brown Could Have Reshaped Atlanta Falcons’ Defense in a 2020 NFL Redraft
In PFSN’s redraft, NFL Draft analyst Jacob Infante pegged Pro Bowl defensive tackle Derrick Brown as the ideal do-over pick for Atlanta. Originally drafted No. 7 overall by the Carolina Panthers, Brown has evolved into one of the NFL’s premier interior defenders.
Infante highlighted his dominance, writing, “A certified difference maker against the run, Derrick Brown most notably had 103 tackles as a defensive tackle in 2023. He missed most of 2025 but would still be a deserving early pick in this do-over.”
That 2023 season cemented Brown’s status as a game-changer. He led all interior defenders with 103 total tackles, added 15 quarterback hits, and earned his first Pro Bowl nod — an accolade many felt was overdue.
Though a knee injury in Week 1 of 2024 sidelined him for the remainder of the season, Brown remains one of the most disruptive forces in the league. He’s now on track to return fully healthy for 2025, and Infante even named him the best player on Carolina’s roster entering this season.
Panthers have full attendance at OTAs today. A few limited in work due to injuries such as Derrick Brown and Tommy Tremble. pic.twitter.com/670yARt1oz
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) May 27, 2025
Adding a player like Brown to Atlanta’s front seven could have fundamentally reshaped the team’s defensive identity. While the Falcons have built around veterans like Grady Jarrett up front, pairing Jarrett with a younger, elite tackle would have made for a nightmare combination for opposing offenses. Brown’s ability to command double teams, collapse the pocket, and swallow the run game inside is precisely the type of skill set that elevates entire units.
Meanwhile, Terrell, who Infante sent to the Raiders at pick No. 19 in this redraft, has still proven to be one of the better corners in the NFL. While he hasn’t quite matched his All-Pro level from 2021, Terrell remains a shutdown presence.
Offenses actively avoid his side of the field, as evidenced by his lockdown coverage of Washington Commanders’ Pro Bowl receiver Terry McLaurin late last season. Atlanta rewarded him with a top-tier extension in 2024, a move that has paid off.
Still, it’s hard not to imagine how dominant the Falcons’ defense could be today with a Pro Bowl tackle like Brown anchoring the middle. That’s the intrigue of redrafts: A fun “what if” that sparks new appreciation for how key draft decisions can alter the trajectory of an entire franchise.