The Panthers continued their defense-heavy draft by selecting Southern Illinois hybrid defender Jeremy Chinn with the No. 64 overall pick. The team traded up with the Seahawks to get there, surrendering the No. 69 and No. 148 picks.
Chinn is an Isaiah Simmons-like talent who will bring a ton of versatility to the back end of Carolina’s defense. Let’s take a dive into Chinn’s scouting report and see what makes him so special.
Strengths:
Chinn had one of the best combine performances of the year. He measured in at 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds, a monstrous size for a safety. Chinn clocked a 4.45 second 40-yard dash, jumped 41 inches vertically, put up 20 reps on the bench and recorded a 138 inch broad jump. For a player his size, those numbers are absolutely ridiculous and comparable to those of Simmons.
Chinn is more than just an athletic freak though – he is a tremendous football player. He fits the mold of a prototype strong safety or sub-package linebacker in the NFL. He is solid in zone coverage, has a nose for the football and has excellent ball skills at the catch point. Chinn is also is an explosive tackler with a tremendous ability to wrap up with his long wingspan. However, the thing that excites coaches and scouts the most is his closing speed. Chinn has a lightning-quick trigger to attack downhill and break on the ball and he finishes with authority. He’s also an effective blitzer.
Weaknesses:
The one area that Chinn struggles in is man coverage. He is not terrible by any means, but this is an area that he can definitely get better at. He does relatively well covering routes vertically, but his ability to mirror a receiver is average. The good news is that Chinn has the athletic ability and fluid hips to improve in this area.
Fit with the Panthers:
Carolina passed on Simmons in round one, but made up for it with this pick. Chinn has as much upside as any defensive back in this class. He is a do-it-all type defender that will be able to provide immediate impact for the Panthers at off-ball linebacker, nickel, and safety. Matt Rhule hit a home run here, as he got the best player available at a position of need.
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