As expected, this has been a defense-heavy draft class for the Carolina Panthers. So far, they have added three defensive prospects who project as starters for the 2020 season.
In the first round, they passed on Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons and picked Auburn DT Derrick Brown at No. 7. Next, they selected Penn State EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos with the No. 38 pick. Then, they traded up to No. 64 and chose Southern Illinois DB/LB Jeremy Chinn.
That’s a good start for a unit that came into this draft looking like the worst defense in the league on paper.
One spot that hasn’t been addressed yet? The most problematic of them: cornerback. Coming into the draft, we pinpointed corner as the top position of need. As of yet, they haven’t picked one, which is a bit concerning to say the least.
General manager Marty Hurney admits that it’s a spot of need, but he says he doesn’t want to reach for a player.
Marty Hurney: “Obviously, corner is a spot of need. But the one thing you don’t want to do is take a player just cause you’re reaching.”
— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) April 25, 2020
Fair enough, but the Panthers are running out of options if they are planning on getting a starting-level cornerback in this class.
The addition of Chinn will help in this area, as he has the ability to play slot corner as well as the outside. However, he’s primarily a safety/linebacker hybrid who we expect to become Eric Reid’s successor at strong safety. Defensive coordinator Phil Snow still needs somebody to take James Bradberry’s spot plus a replacement for top backup Ross Cockrell.
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