NFL
By Allan Erickson
Grade: B+
The Carolina Panthers had glaring needs heading into this year’s NFL draft. Rasul Douglas was the starting cornerback opposite Donte Jackson, and he departed in free agency. They needed help on the offensive line, and the Panthers lost their best blocking tight end with Chris Manhertz departing the team this offseason. All of their needs were addressed via this year’s draft, and more than a few of these picks will come in and have an immediate impact.
In the first round, with the eighth pick, the Panthers selected Jaycee Horn, South Carolina. A strong, physical player who most experts feel is the best cornerback prospect coming out of college this year. Jaycee is a long cornerback with above-average ball skills. In the first round, the Panthers found their corner to start opposite Donte Jackson. In the NFC South, where big, strong, physically gifted wide receivers are everywhere you look, the Panthers now have someone who can match up with any of them. This is a player who will come into the Queen City, and make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball for the Panthers. While I think every Panther fan was hoping that Penei Sewell would fall to us at number 8, (he was picked at 7 by the Detroit Lions;) the Panthers got great value and an immediate starter here, and you can’t ask for more from your first-round pick.
Day two of the draft for the Panthers ushered in a new era for Matt Rhule. After spending all of the 2020 picks, and the first-round pick in 2021 on defense, the Panthers drafted their first offensive players since Rhule took over the helm.
In the second round, the Panthers reunited offensive coordinator Joe Brady with former LSU wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. Marshall can work on the outside or inside and will come in and compete for the third wide receiver spot. The Panthers lost Curtis Samuel to free agency and helped fill the void by signing David Moore. Drafting Marshall creates competition in the wide receiver room. Robby Anderson is entering the final season of his contract. If Marshall and David Moore play well this season, alongside the Panthers’ number 1 receiver DJ Moore, there will be some wiggle room if Robby Anderson doesn’t get re-signed next offseason. Marshall is a dynamic receiver who can take the top off, run intermediate routes, and block in the run game. Another immediate impact hit for the Panthers
Brady Christensen, an offensive tackle from BYU came off the board next for the Panthers in the third round. He’s someone who is a little older than most draft picks this year, but he’s proven to be a great physical specimen. He didn’t allow a sack protecting the blindside of this year’s number two overall pick, Zach Wilson. I don’t predict Brady to be the starting left tackle this season, but he provides depth and versatility on the offensive line. Something the Panthers have been needing for quite some time.
The second pick of the third round was a position of need and an absolute steal in my eyes. Tommy Tremble, tight end from Notre Dame was the pick. He’s a freak of an athlete and somebody who can make an immediate impact for the Panthers in the run game. He was the best blocking tight end coming out of college this season, and he replaces Chris Manhertz from day one. Anything the Panthers can get from Tremble in the passing game will be a plus. He’s not a great route runner, and wasn’t giving many opportunities to catch the football in college. The Panthers were last in the NFL in tight end production last season, combining for only 204 receiving yards. If Tremble can develop into a pass-catcher who averages 300-500 yards per season and bring his physical blocking style to the next level, the Panthers have gotten themselves a great value pick in round three.
Chuba Hubbard from Oklahoma State came off the board in the fourth round. He is a good running back, a bruiser who puts his foot in the ground, hits the hole hard, and runs downhill as soon as he sees an opening. The Panthers lost Mike Davis to free agency, and Hubbard can come in and usurp that role immediately. If he can continue to develop as a pass-catcher, and bring his physicality and willingness to block in the pass game, he will be a solid running back number two for years to come for the Panthers.
In the fifth and sixth round, the Panthers turned their abundance of picks into players who can compete and fill voids the Panthers needed to fill. Daviyon Nixon defensive tackle from Iowa, is a strong, run stuffing defensive tackle who may end up splitting time with last year’s first-round pick Derrick Brown. Keith Taylor, Washington, could be the starting nickel corner as early as this year. Deonte Brown, Alabama is a powerful guard who excelled in run blocking, and adds depth to a fairly depleted interior offensive line. Shi Smith reunited with fellow gamecock Jaycee Horn, and adds more depth to the wide receiver room. I’d like to skip over the fact that the Panthers drafted a long-snapper in the sixth round, but it does show how Alabama is simply miles ahead of anybody else in college football. To close out the draft, the Panthers selected defensive tackle Phil Hoskins, from Kentucky, who adds more quality depth amongst the defensive line.
I won’t go as far as saying the Panthers “won” this year’s NFL draft. However, all in all, this was a strong performance from Scott Fitterer, Matt Rhule, and the rest of the Panthers’ war room. Multiple trade backs, the Panthers were able to add talent, athleticism, and depth throughout the entire draft. I feel that most of these players will make immediate impacts and have long impacts on the field for years to come. The Carolina Panthers seem to be building something special, here. While much of their success this season will hinge on whether Sam Darnold can take the next steps as an NFL quarterback, and most importantly, stop turning the ball over. The Panthers added talent around him, more weapons to spread the ball around to, and continued to build up their defense. All in all, it was a very productive draft for the Carolina Panthers.
Until next time, y’all Keep Pounding.
