Cornerback, cornerback, cornerback
Winning consistently in today’s NFL is next to impossible without a solid cornerback room. If the Panthers don’t take that to heart, they’re going to learn that the hard way in 2020.
It’s debatable whether or not James Bradberry was worth the contract he signed with the Giants. What’s not debatable is he was the top corner on Carolina’s roster and finding a suitable replacement for him should be the top priority in this draft.
Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah is the crown jewel of a strong 2020 cornerback class. If by some miracle he’s still available at No. 7 overall, the Panthers can’t hesitate a second to pick him. If not, they’ll have plenty of other options. Aside from wide receiver, cornerback is probably the deepest group in this draft class.
Florida’s CJ Henderson is generally considered the second-best corner in this group behind Okudah. We have concerns about his tackling and his worst habits seem to align a bit too closely with Donte Jackson’s. However, his man coverage skills make him worth a pick in the teens.
They don’t need to draft a corner in the first round, though. There’s plenty of depth to go around and there should still be excellent outside corner prospects available in round three.
Once they find a replacement for Bradberry, the team will need to address the slot corner position, which is bare now that Javien Elliott is gone. Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson is the top prospect at this spot and he’s someone they have shown some interest in.
Whoever they have their eye on, slot corner should probably be addressed no later than the fifth round.
Even after replacing Bradberry and Elliott, the work might not be done. With Ross Cockrell out of the picture (he remains unsigned), their best backup is gone. Assuming they trade down in the draft at some point, we might see the Panthers pick three cornerbacks.