Predicting the Panthers 2016 Starters & Backups

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

Starter: Luke Kuechly

As a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and leader of the Panthers’ defense, Luke Kuechly mans the middle linebacker position in Carolina. The consistent leader in tackles on the team, Kuechly has established himself as the league’s top linebacker and is consistently rewarded with postseason honors. With over 150 tackles in each of his first three seasons, Kuechly will look to get back to that number after managing 118 due to a three-game injury absence in 2015.

Backup: A.J. Klein

Normally just an outside backer, Klein proved to be arguably better in the middle when he took over for Kuechly with little to no drop off. In two of the three games he started Klein notched 10 and nine tackles respectively and in the other he picked off a pass.

Next: STRONG SIDE LINEBACKER