Carolina Panthers: Defensive line is their top priority in 2020 NFL Draft

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) Derrick Brown
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) Derrick Brown /
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As the Carolina Panthers prepare for the 2020 NFL Draft, all eyes are on addressing their major area of need in their defensive line.

Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney sure has been busy this offseason. He’s made some difficult decisions when it comes to releasing players and has made some interesting moves in free agency so far. With the 2020 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, the main area of need of their defensive line has yet to be addressed.

It’s no secret that in order to win more football games, it’s all about the battle in the trenches. The Panthers’ defense, especially the last few years, has left much to the imagination. They couldn’t stop the run in any way, shape, or form and just lacked that intensity that’s needed to set the defensive tone in a football game.

As the Panthers prepare for the NFL Draft, it’s imperative they use their 7th overall pick on a defensive lineman. One that not only specializes in stopping the run but can also bring the heat against opposing quarterbacks. You know, a defensive lineman that is fast, strong, and able to make an immediate impact upon arrival.

The Carolina Panthers must draft a versatile defensive lineman

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It remains to be seen if the Panthers still stay with the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft or if they’ll consider moving up or down in the draft order. One can make the argument for either case considering the Panthers are in a full rebuild to hopefully field a winning team in the future.

It might be enticing for the Panthers to trade down and acquire more draft picks to continue rebuilding the roster. Assuming the Panthers stay at No. 7 though, it’s imperative they use it to draft the best available defensive lineman to bolster that part of the team.

Overall, if they can land one that is versatile and able to play multiple roles on the defensive line, that would be exactly what the Panthers need. This year’s draft is full of top defensive linemen that should still be available when the Panthers are on the clock. As long as they stick to fixing this major issue on their defense now, it’ll be a good start for better days ahead.