It’s been an active off-season for the Carolina Panthers with the hiring of Matt Rhule as head coach and his staff. The Panthers just announced Monday the hiring of Phil Snow as defensive coordinator. With free agency nearing, there are a lot of question marks revolving around Carolina’s offense and defense. It’ll be interesting to see what issues are addressed to officially start the 2020 NFL league year and what others will be held off until the upcoming NFL Draft. The Panthers will have the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft and will have their chance at nabbing a top player.
For the second week in a row, Dan Kadar predicts Carolina will go with cornerback Jeff Okudah in his latest mock draft for SB Nation.
7. Carolina Panthers: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
With James Bradberry and Ross Cockrell both entering free agency, the Panthers have a large hole in the secondary. Drafting for need this high usually isn’t smart, but Okudah is one of the draft’s top players who can make an impact early in his career.
In Kevin Hanson’s latest mock draft for Sports Illustrated, he agrees Carolina will add some help to the defense, but on the defensive line.
7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
The Panthers allowed a league-worst 5.2 yards per carry and 31 rushing touchdowns in 2019. While the (soon-to-be) 31-year-old Kawann Short landed on IR after Week 2, Gerald McCoy will be a free agent in March and Dontari Poe could be a cap casualty. Surprising many by returning to school in 2019, Brown is dominant against the run and moves well for his size.
Other experts believe the offensive-minded Rhule will fill some gaps on the offense.
In Bryan Fischer’s latest mock for Athlon Sports, he believes the offensive line will get a major boost.
7. Carolina Panthers: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
The Panthers’ new brain trust isn’t going to rush into taking a quarterback at No. 7 and now there’s Luke Kuechly’s surprise retirement to deal with as well. Still, Matt Rhule is an old offensive line coach and knows as well as anybody that you build your team from front to back. That can start with Thomas, who the head coach probably saw plenty of while watching film on Georgia prior to his final game at Baylor.
With Cam Newton potentially moving on from the Panthers in free agency next off-season, Ryan Wilson projects a new quarterback for the team in his latest mock draft for CBS Sports.
7. Carolina Panthers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
The Panthers have needs in the secondary and along the defensive line but we still don’t know when Cam Newton, who has one year left on his deal, will be healthy. And with the addition of new OC Joe Brady, getting Newton’s successor would make some sense. Herbert will need a year to grow into a starting role but he has all the physical tools teams look for in a franchise passer.
Which pick do you like the most, Panthers fans?