The Panthers traded away a fifth and sixth round pick to move up eleven spots into the next to last slot in the fourth round to select the wispy defensive end from Mississippi. Some are calling the 6’2” 235 lbs player a linebacker, but I think the Panthers plan to keep him at defensive end.
He will need to put on some weight and add some muscle, but he has time to develop. The Panthers will hope he keeps his speed even after adding 25 or 30 lbs and use him on third down speed packages. That could be as a defensive end or some type of hybrid package as a linebacker.
Actually, Haynes reminds me of Mario Addison. A speed rusher at the start but, after a couple seasons of adding bulk, he can develop into a lot more.
Mel Kiper likes him, a little anyway:
2017 Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner Marquis Haynes leaves Ole Miss as its all-time career sack leader and is tied for most single-season sacks in school history. Although Kiper did not express the same enthusiasm for Haynes as he did for Speaks, he seems certain that Haynes will have an impact on whatever NFL roster he lands on.
“(Haynes) has proven what he can do on the field with his history on the field at Ole Miss,” Kiper said. “I see him as an early day-three guy, but there is no doubt that he can rush the passer.”
He nailed the early day three selection. Yet there are those wondering if the Panthers will prefer Haynes stay lean and slide in as an early down Sam linebacker and a third down speed rusher.
When I watch his combine performance I see a frame that might not be able to put on too much weight. I’m really undecided on what the Panthers have planned for Haynes. It will be interesting to see when camp finally rolls around.
Here’s some game tape from 2015 against Texas A&M.
When I watch him play he looks small and limited in his pass rushing moves. He’s pretty much speed and some leverage when he can get it. Haynes exits Ole Miss as their leading sack master and tackles for loss. He actually broke Greg Hardy’s sack record at Ole Miss, something I bet they appreciate.
Off the field, Haynes appears to be the anti-Hardy. He’s already inspired from helping kids and is already talking about being a coach someday once he hangs up the cleats. He comes across as a real team player in his interviews. He’s just the kind of player we like in the locker room. Where he ends up on the field is anybody’s guess.
Marquis Haynes - Mississippi Rebels - 2018 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com
The Panthers traded up to select Ole Miss DE Marquis Haynes with the No. 136 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
The Panthers sent picks No. 147 and 197 to the Rams for this selection. Haynes (6’2/235) broke Greg Hardy’s school record for sacks (32) and Derrick Burgess’ school record in tackles for loss (47.5) for the Rebels, also tallying 12 forced fumbles. Haynes showed passable athleticism at the Combine with 38th-percentile SPARQ results and 4.67 speed. Old for a rookie, Haynes turns 25 later this year and is a one-trick-pony speed rusher. Still, Haynes’ one trick is valuable and gives him a shot at an extended NFL career as a sub-package edge player.
There is a contrarian point of view on Haynes.
The Mocking Dead: 4 stars in college who won’t star in the NFL | The Draft Wire
Marquis Haynes, EDGE, Mississippi
Last year, Oklahoma’s Eric Striker was a productive edge defender who got after the quarterback regularly. Haynes has racked up 31.5 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks in 32 career games, but he’s likely to struggle with the same issues Striker has in terms being a “tweener” prospect. If he wants to stay on the edge at the next level, he’ll have to add some bulk to his 222-pound frame, but he might sacrifice some of the explosiveness that makes him so effective in college.
Tweeners don’t have a huge history of success in the NFL and certainly not with the Panthers either. Remember Everett Brown? Haynes reminds me of him as well. Of course we didn’t give away a first round pick to draft him, only a fifth and sixth, so there’s really not much on the line here. Given the premium on pass rushers it wouldn’t take much to make the investment pan out. How about three or four sacks as a rookie? Well that’s only if he sees the field, which he may not. The Panthers have decent depth at defensive end, though maybe not two spot on starters.
Certainly Mario Addison is a starter and Julius Peppers is starter quality obviously. It’s just I’m sure the Panthers will want to limit his snaps as they did last season. So that leaves second year player Daeshon Hall and long timer Wes Horton fighting for snaps. Also don’t sleep on Bryan Cox Jr., who impressed as an undrafted free agent rookie last year in the preseason. Haynes will not have an easy time making this roster.
What are your thoughts on Haynes? Will the Panthers leave him at defensive end or will he be an outside linebacker?