The Carolina Panthers rookie draft picks now have jersey numbers and several selections are like a hand to a glove.
DT Derrick Brown — No. 95
I find it very appropriate that Brown selected No. 95 most notably worn by defensive end Charles Johnson. I’m going to spare Brown the ‘Big Money’ moniker at this point, he still has big enough shoes to fill without the contract side. But don’t feel bad for Brown, as a top ten pick his first contract will dwarf what Johnson’s first contract was.
DE Yetur Gross-Matos — No. 97
If you are going to replace a departed player you might as well take his number too. I’m not sure which side of the ball YGM will play on but he is certainly expected to put some heat on the edge just as Mario Addison did.
S Jeremy Chinn — No. 21
It takes some nuggets to pick No. 21 as a defensive back. Does he think he is the next Prime Time? Of course I realize Deion Sanders did not play for the Panthers but he is the player I personally associate with that number. Prime Time was my favorite player from my days as an Atlanta Falcons fan before the Panthers were founded. I’ll settle for the next Mike Minter though, so no pressure.
CB Troy Pride — No. 25
Pride takes the number most recently worn by safety Eric Reid. Like fellow rookie Derrick Brown, Pride wore No. 5 in college which seems kind of strange given their positions. Is it a rule No. 5 can only be worn by the best players on defense? Seems like it. He at least got a number with a 5 in it.
DT Bravvion Roy — No. 93
Once again we have a player taking the number of the player they appear to be replacing. Roy gets the number formally worn by Kyle ‘Big Lovin’ Love. Those are big shoes to fill (pun intended) but with a name like Bravvion he has to be up for the task. Well as far as the task of being an adequate back up defensive tackle.
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III — No. 23
Ken Lucas and Melvin White have worn this number well in the past. Yet there is still room for Oliver-Thomas to make his own legend wearing No. 23. Who doesn’t love it when a seventh round pick makes it big? Might Oliver-Thomas follow in the footsteps of former seventh round pick Captain Munnerlyn. The only draw back I can see is he has three first names. Players with three first names never make the Pro Bowl.
DB Kenny Robinson #27
Robinson sports the number most recently worn by Mike Adams. Before him it was most notably worn by Robert McClain, who if nothing lasted way longer in the league (8 seasons) than most seventh round draft picks. There is plenty of room to be the best #27 ever.
So which jersey might you buy Panthers fans?