The current Panthers roster is an odd mix of rookies, rising young stars and veterans with something to prove after having a rough season in 2019.
One of those vets looking for a turnaround is left tackle Russell Okung, who has been named by Pro Football Focus as the team’s top bounce-back candidate this coming season, per ESPN. PFF mentions Okung’s health issues, but also cites a career-low grade last year.
“A pulmonary embolism due to blood clots in his lungs limited Okung to six games in 2019, but he still produced the worst PFF grade of his career in that span. His run blocking was the key driver in the dip in play; he ended the regular season with a 56.4 run-block grade that ranked 55th among 89 qualifying players at the position and was by far the lowest mark of his NFL career.”
We see where PFF is going, but there are better candidates.
The first name that comes to mind is cornerback Donte Jackson, who suffered a regression in 2019 after a promising rookie year. Jackson remains extraordinarily fast and athletic. However, he has developed a habit of gambling in order to make big plays and opposing teams have taken advantage. Last season, Jackson allowed five touchdowns in coverage and a 103.2 passer rating. He also missed too many tackles. PFF took note, giving Jackson a 55.6 overall grade for the season. Jackson’s future could still be bright based on his physical gifts. Remember, there was a time when Marcus Peters went through a similar phase early in his career, and he’s since become one of the top 10 corners in the league.
Another quality candidate is the guy who may start on the other side, former Saints cornerback Eli Apple. He only gave up two touchdowns in 2019, but his passer rating when targeted was 100.9, a significant bump from the previous season. While PFF appreciated his run defense, Apple only got a 63.8 rating for the year. He’s in a similar situation as Jackson. With the right coaching, both could turn their careers around.
The best potential bounce-back player on the Panthers this year though is their starting center, Matt Paradis. He signed a three-year deal with Carolina last March and was supposed to offer a smooth transition into the post-Ryan Kalil era. Unfortunately, Paradis had a brutal 2019 season in pass protection. In the end, he earned a 43.8 pass blocking grade from PFF, bringing his overall grade down to 63.4 overall.
Part of Paradis’ issues may have been due to the fractured fibula he suffered the previous year. Sometimes it takes more than a season to fully recover from that kind of serious leg injury. The continually revolving door at left guard didn’t help Paradis, either. If he’s able to return to form in 2020, it will be a huge boost for Carolina’s entire offense. When healthy, Paradis has been one of the highest-ranked centers in PFF’s grading in the past.
Let’s open this up to a vote. Who do you think is this year’s top bounce-back candidate?
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