Carolina Panthers: Analyzing the defense before buying into draft hype

Linebackers

I couldn’t tell you how much the loss of Kuechly will set the Panthers’ defense back. As a matter of fact, no one really can. But I can tell you that fact he retired increased the likelihood of the Panthers looking to draft another linebacker this year. Will it be a first-round linebacker? I’m not convinced that’ll happen, but, considering the current options, I do see a third or fourth-rounder joining the ranks this year.

The oldest options at the Panthers’ disposal are twenty-five-year-olds Shaq Thompson and Jermaine Carter. They both have NFL starting experience and will both likely be starters this year.

As for the rest? Jordan Kunaszyck and Andre Smith both need to step up their game to get off of special teams. Kunaszyck made a splash in the 2019 preseason and that was about it. Perhaps Mr. Siravo can pull the “hunt” out of these guys to maintain the set standard.

The linebacking corps has set the tone for the defense over last few years, and this year we’ll get a chance to see what the depth is really made of. If Kuechly felt like he was losing his speed and physicality then these would-be predators know what fundamentals they need to work on.