The Panthers will be picking at No. 7 when the 2020 NFL draft comes around in April. General manager Marty Hurney has built his reputation on an excellent batting average in the first round. The organization will need Hurney to make another splash pick, because as we just witnessed this team has a lot of ground to gain on contenders like the Saints.

Here are seven players who might be on the board when it’s the Panthers’ turn to pick at No. 7.

Auburn DT Derrick Brown

Dontari Poe, Vernon Butler and Gerald McCoy might all be gone by the time the draft comes. That means the Panthers have to reload their interior defensive line, even with Kawann Short returning. Brown (6-foot-5, 318 pounds) is the best defensive tackle in this class by far. Over the last two seasons, he’s totaled 8.5 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss. Brown has also forced three fumbles and broke up six passes. Drafting a disruptive force like Brown would give Carolina the young foundation it needs for the next generation of tackles.