Panthers coach Matt Rhule told the media after the 2020 NFL draft that his team will have to rely on their rookies. He wasn’t kidding. With so many holes to fill on defense, there’s a chance we may see every single pick get serious playing time this coming season.
In fact, since Carolina needs this class to produce so badly their 2020 rookies might have a bigger impact than any other team’s in the league. At least that’s what Mike Clay said in an ESPN panel about the draft’s biggest questions. Here’s his reasoning.
“It’s hard to go against the Dolphins here, but the Panthers’ defense was in such rough shape entering draft weekend that they became the first team in the modern era to spend every one of their selections on defensive players. It’s conceivable that all seven rookies could play a significant 2020 role and that can be considered a near lock for defensive tackle Derrick Brown, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and safety Jeremy Chinn, all early-round selections.”
Clay makes a good point. There are some legitimate question marks about this draft class, though. Derrick Brown’s athleticism, Troy Pride Jr.’s size and the level of competition Jeremy Chinn faced in college all have to be taken into account.
It’s also rare for a defense-heavy rookie class to make a significant impact, but there are exceptions. For example, the 2016 Falcons team that made it to the Super Bowl had four rookies starting for a defensive unit that rounded into shape near the end of the season.
These 2020 Panthers aren’t going to the Super Bowl, but there’s a real chance for each of these draft picks to shine.
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