With the 38th overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft, the Panthers selected Penn State defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos. A few weeks ago, Marty Hurney hinted at the fact that this will be a defense heavy draft. He and Matt Rhule look to be committed at forming a dangerous defensive front that will be able to stuff the run and get after opposing quarterbacks.
Let’s take a closer look at Carolina’s second-round selection and everything that he brings to the table.
Strengths:
Gross-Matos measured in at 6-foot-5, 266 pounds with 35 inch arms at the NFL Combine. He has an absolutely perfect frame and all the physical tools play as a 4-3 defensive end. He is still a work in progress, but he took a big leap in his development in 2019.
Gross-Matos’ pass rush counters are solid, as he plays with good hand placement on his counters and tremendous flexibility in his hips. He has fantastic burst off the snap and is capable when defending the run as well. He fills his gap nicely and is able to defend his ground at the point of attack with his strength. Gross-Matos also plays with a non-stop motor and tremendous hustle. He is a well-rounded, prototypical defensive end that has a ton of upside. The fact that Gross-Matos was able to improve as much as he did in 2019 shows that he is a coachable player.
Weaknesses:
As stated previously, Gross-Matos is a work in progress. He still has plenty of room to grow, as he needs to develop a wider repertoire of pass rush counters and work on precision in his hand placement/jabs. This should be something he will be able to improve with the right coaching and learning from veterans like Kawann Short.
Fit with the Panthers:
Gross-Matos is a perfect scheme fit with the Panthers. Rhule confirmed that the Panthers will be switching back to a 4-3 defense this year, so Phil Snow will be able to stick him at strong side defensive end opposite Brian Burns. Gross-Matos says they will also be sliding him inside on occasion. Overall, this is a tremendous value pick.
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