Analyzing Chris Orr’s fit with the Carolina Panthers

Wisconsin linebacker Chris Orr was not among the four former Badgers who heard their names called during the 2020 NFL Draft last week…

Wisconsin linebacker Chris Orr was not among the four former Badgers who heard their names called during the 2020 NFL Draft last week.

It did not take long for the Texas native to find an NFL home during post-draft free agency, though, as he signed with the Carolina Panthers immediately after the draft concluded and joined his brother Zach Orr and former Badgers including Philadelphia Eagle T.J. Edwards, free agent Corey Clement and Tampa Bay Buccaneer D’Cota Dixon as a player to find their NFL start as an undrafted free agent.

The Orr signing added to the Panthers’ record-breaking draft haul, as they were the only team in NFL history to use all of their selections on the defensive side of the football.

Making the team as an undrafted free agent is normally a challenging task. But now that the Panthers completely re-vamped their defense during the draft, that task may be an even tougher one for Orr this coming fall.

Nevertheless, the former Badger will have a shot at a role in Carolina as a depth option at linebacker and special teams contributor.

As of now he is set to join a linebacker room with big names including Tahir Whitehead and Shaq Thompson that operates in a 3-4 defensive scheme under head coach Matt Rhule, the same defensive scheme used by defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard at Wisconsin.

If Edwards’ story means anything for Orr’s NFL chances, the former Badger should benefit from the familiarity coming from Wisconsin defensive scheme and the recent history of Badger linebackers in the NFL.

This history–looking at current starters in the NFL including Edwards, T.J. Watt, Joe Schobert and Ryan Connelly and backups/special teams players including Andrew Van Ginkel and Jack Cichy–should see Orr at least make the Week 1 roster despite waiting until his senior season to produce at an NFL level.

The most likely role for Orr to begin his professional career is as a situational blitz and run-defending specialist in addition to a special teams starter.

Until the former Badger is able to improve his mobility and pass-coverage skills, it isn’t likely he will find himself in a starting role, especially with Thompson and Whitehead ahead of him on the depth chart.

Regardless, Orr has a better chance than most undrafted free agents to make the Week 1 roster due to his proficiency in specialized areas of the game, and should find a role on Rhule’s team even if it is just as a blitz specialist and kickoff coverage man.