The Panthers are doing things different this year. Their first-round decision could be questioned for decades, but Day 2 was a breakout performance from rookie general manager Scott Fitterer. Not only did Fitterer display a better knack for navigating the draft than his predecessors, he seems to have a more solid grasp of the positions his team needs to succeed in the modern NFL.
Yesterday, Carolina traded down three times and up once, addressing needs at left tackle, wide receiver and tight end along the way. Let’s take a look at a few spots they might target on Saturday.
Safety
Perhaps the most glaring need on the roster at the moment is a true free safety following the release of veteran Tre Boston. Several great DB prospects were available at No. 39, but the Panthers chose to pass and trade down instead. Heading into Day 3, this should be the top priority. Some of the best safeties still on the board include Indiana’s Jamar Johnson and Florida State’s Hamsah Nasirildeen.
Running back
Carolina still needs a backup to replace Mike Davis behind Christian McCaffrey at running back. Fortunately, there are a ton of quality prospects here at that are still available. UCLA’s Demetric Felton, North Carolina’s Michael Carter and Kylin Hill from Mississippi State are all worth a look.
Guard/iOL
Brady Christensen’s arms may be a bit short for left tackle, but that’s still his best projection for now given his experience. If the Panthers feel the same, then they can move inside to add some more depth behind Pat Elflein, Matt Paradis and John Miller. Our favorite prospects on the board here are Tennessee’s Trey Smith and Alabama’s Deonte Brown.
Defensive tackle
Carolina lost a lot of interior defensive line depth this offseason, with Kawann Short, Efe Obada and Zach Kerr all leaving. Signing DaQuan Jones helps some. However, adding another tackle should still be on the list. Iowa’s Daviyon Nixon, Ohio State’s Tommy Togiai and USC’s Marlon Tuipulotu might be on Fitterer’s radar today.
Slot
No position has gotten more attention than cornerback this offseason. All of the corners they’ve added are more better-suited to line up outside, though and they still need a slot defender to replace Corn Elder. Potential targets here include Oregon’s Deommodore Lenoir and Boise State’s Avery Williams, who could also fill a need at kick returner. The team has met with both of those prospects virtually.
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