Carolina Panthers Draft: Isaiah Simmons in Round 1 would be a mistake
The Carolina Panthers need help on defense but it would be a mistake to draft linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the No. 7 overall pick.
When it comes to the 2020 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers have a great opportunity to address many needs in one fell swoop. Anything can change between now and then, but as of right now, the Panthers have eight draft picks to work with. It’s hard to tell how many of those draft picks will end up being defensive players, but there are some specific areas of need that should have a higher priority than others.
The truth of the matter is, the Panthers need help bad on their defensive line. Yes, they also need help when it comes to their cornerback situation and even at linebacker. With the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft, what would happen if, by some miracle, the best of the best at linebacker is still available?
The NFL Draft is one of those kinds of events that are as unpredictable as it comes as this scenario could very well happen. Crazy things can and will happen that will destroy every mock draft made prior to the event. You know, the kinds of trades and moves that can either look like a genius crafted it or made a decision that makes you scratch your head for years.
The Carolina Panthers should not draft Isaiah Simmons in Round 1
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At any rate, there is always a possibility that a top player, one that is expected to be one of the first taken within the No. 1 to No. 5 pick, could potentially fall right into the lap of the Panthers.
Such is the case with the best linebacker in this year’s class, Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson. He’s expected to likely be the first defensive player taken off the board but what if he’s still there when the Panthers are on the clock?
In the grand scheme of things, general manager Marty Hurney would be wise to stick to his draft board. While it would be great to land a player like Simmons, it doesn’t address the major need on defense that the Panthers need to upgrade. The Panthers have one of the worst defenses in the NFL when it comes to stopping the run.
Drafting a defensive lineman can help with that in addition to finally adding some pressure against opposing quarterbacks. The Panthers also don’t have a high-quality edge rusher that can make their presence known every single time they’re on the field. At the end of it all, the Panthers should take the best available defensive lineman at No. 7 and not use it on any other positional group.
No, they don’t need to draft another quarterback with such a high pick. The same goes for a wide receiver or even a cornerback. If anything, the only other positional group that might make sense at No. 7 is if the Panthers consider taking the best available offensive guard. Football games are won and lost in the trenches so if they can get a high-quality offensive guard with their first-round draft pick, that would help rebuild the team the right way.
Trending. Panthers should not dare consider trading up in NFL Draft. light
Overall, using this pick on Simmons wouldn’t make sense as it’s not that high up on the priority list. It’s not a knock on Simmons as he’s an incredible linebacker and will easily be a household name but for the Panthers, they need to be all-in when it comes to their defensive line. The No. 7 overall pick needs to be used to fix such a glaring hole on defense that is in dire need of finally getting some much-needed talent.