Carolina Panthers: Analyzing the defense before buying into draft hype
By Alex Duran
Defensive ends
Let’s start with the most loaded position group on defense. I will be thoroughly shocked if the Panthers were to consider an early draft choice in this category considering that they drafted a first-rounder last year.
The only issue that may set the Panthers back would be the departure of Mario Addison. However, his departure would provide more opportunities for the recently-inked Efe Obada, 2019 fourth-round pick Christian Miller and 2019 preseason standout, Marquis Haynes.
At the beginning of 2019 we saw a whole lot of Brian Burns and suddenly we didn’t. Things just became the Irvin and Addison show. Now since that pair might be gone in 2020 (hopefully not) the Panthers will need to see if the rotational pieces can step up.
It looks like Mike Phair is looking for passion and brute force with his line, two things Irvin and Addison provided plenty of tape on in 2019. Two things that the former rotation will be working on all summer long. If the Panthers were to draft a defensive end, I would imagine a fifth-rounder being their earliest target if at all.