Montez Sweat could be defensive spark plug for Panthers
Panthers should certainly take a look at Sweat with pick No. 16.
As the draft get closer, more experts are coming out with mock drafts. Friday, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com came out with one of his own and the Carolina Panthers should be thinking about the defensive side of the football according to Brooks.
Brooks’ pick? Mississippi State edge defender Montez Sweat. The graduating senior could be the perfect pick to fix the Panthers’ problems with age and depth at the position. Sweat had a breakout 2018 season, and the Panthers could certainly use him as a piece to bring back the tenacious defense of a few years ago.
"The Panthers need to find a young edge defender, with Julius Peppers — who recently turned 39 — due to become a free agent. Sweat is an explosive athlete with the speed and quickness to consistently record 10-plus sacks in the NFL."
Sweat’s ascent in the college football world truly began in 2017. As a junior, he tallied an astounding 48 tackles and 10.5 sacks in 13 games. He also recorded a fumble recovery to boot. He would only improve in 2018. In 13 contests, he recorded 53 tackles, 12 sacks, and a forced fumble. He truly began putting the college football world on notice, and he has the talent to do the same thing in the National Football League.
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He would be a great pick for the Panthers. The team needs to get better at rushing the passer and their main weapons such as Julius Peppers are getting older. In other circumstances, drafting a defensive end this high could be considered a risk. However, given what the Panthers need and what they currently have on the roster, this would not be a risk it all. If anything, Sweat has enough potential to be considered as close to a sure thing is possible.
When you watch his highlights, Sweat explodes as soon as the ball is snapped. He is very difficult to block, and his six-foot-six, 245-pound frame does not make it any easier on offensive lineman. He may not be the fastest defender on the field, but he knows how to read plays and react in a hurry. That alone makes him worthy of a high-round pick.
He could be exactly what the Panthers need as they look to get younger defensively. He is also good fundamentally. He knows how to fill his gaps and shed blocks in order to make a play. Shedding the blocks and filling gaps were something that successful Panthers defenses of the past did well. The team already has veteran defenders that can make plays, and having someone younger in the fold could only do them good.
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It will be interesting to see what other mock drafts come out. In many of the ones that I have seen, the consensus is that the Panthers need a pass rusher. I don’t disagree, as they need someone who can get to the quarterback desperately. Whether it will be Sweat or someone else remains to be seen.