The Panthers’ cornerback room is starting to look strong after the additions of A.J. Bouye and Rashaan Melvin in free agency and Jaycee Horn getting the call in round one of the draft.
This team still has holes at other high-impact positions, though. Here are three positions Carolina might need to address on Day 2.
Offensive line (left tackle)
The Panthers passed on a QB at No. 8 and exercised Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option this morning, making his QB1 status official. If Darnold is going to take that next step, they’ll have to do a better job of protecting him than the Jets did. Bolstering the offensive line has to begin at left tackle, which has been an ongoing problem here for seven years, now.
Fortunately, this is a deep OT class and there are a lot of quality prospects still out there. Carolina could also use more interior depth with center Matt Paradis going into the final year of his contract and right guard John Miller returning on a one-year deal. Going in, we have identified 12 potential OL targets on Day 2.
Free safety
While left tackle is a priority, the Panthers also have to consider taking one of the top free safety prospects in this class.
Both TCU’s Trevon Moehrig and UCF’s Richie Grant remain available. If one of them is still on the board at No. 39, Scott Fitterer and Matt Rhule at least have to consider it. For what it’s worth, Rhule went out of his way to praise Grant after coaching him at the Senior Bowl. Any safety prospects who can also drop down and defend the slot offer an extra bonus.
Wide receiver
WR might not seem like a need with D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson still under contract. Losing Curtis Samuel was a serious blow for Joe Brady’s offense, though. Signing David Moore will help some, but the team could use another big-bodied target for Darnold, which would also diminish their need to draft a tight end behind Dan Arnold. (That’s going to get weird).
One of the bigger receivers still on the board is LSU’s Terrace Marshall Jr. (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), who knows Brady’s scheme. Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) and Wake Forest’s Sage Surratt (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) may also be in play.
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