The Carolina Panthers are on the lookout for more help on defense heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, and defensive tackle is high on their list.
There is little dispute that the Carolina Panthers need significant reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. The organization used the majority of free agency to upgrade their offensive options ahead of what is going to be an ultra-competitive NFC South next season.
That has left the defensive options almost threadbare and this is something the Panthers are going to address with college prospects later this month. It would be a huge surprise if the organization did not use five of their eight picks on defensive players.
Defensive tackle is sure to be high on their list of priorities. The inexperienced Woodrow Hamilton is slotted as their starter currently and more will be needed if the Panthers are going to stand any chance of being competitive.
They are primed to take one of the elite prospects with the No.7 pick. If the Panthers decide to use this selection on another area other than defensive tackle, there are plenty of intriguing players scheduled to come off the board early in the second round.
It is a pivotal Draft for Carolina’s decision-makers during what is expected to be a season of transition for the franchise. How they fare is going to go a long way to determining the length of their expected rebuild and there is no margin for error.
Here are six defensive tackle prospects that should be high on the Panthers’ radar.
Raekwon Davis – (Alabama)
Raekwon Davis exploded onto the scene for Alabama in 2017. This resulted in a significant amount of success to take away from a highly productive college career.
His impact during his sophomore season was nothing short of sensational. Davis recorded 8.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position and a crucial interception in the school’s National Championship triumph over Georgia.
He was a ferocious presence on the line of scrimmage, but he did not match these sorts of numbers during his final two seasons in Alabama. This could have been due to the program losing some star defenders to the NFL, which resulted in considerably more attention brought on Davis to decrease his ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and running backs.
Davis still managed to perform well in 2018 despite not stuffing the stat sheet like he did the previous season. He recorded 55 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and he emerged as one of the best run stoppers in the college system.
This is a trend Davis continued during his senior year in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Nick Saban’s team. He notched 47 total tackles and just half a sack and admitted he, “wasn’t focused enough,” during the season.
Davis’ time in college also came with some considerable drama. He suffered a minor gunshot wound in 2017 following an incident outside a Tuscaloosa bar. Thankfully, this did not hurt his overall reputation or his ability to make plays on the field.
He is projected to go somewhere in the second or third round, so if the Carolina Panthers opt to use their first-rounder on another position it would put Davis in play.
Javon Kinlaw – (South Carolina)
Javon Kinlaw is another prospect that the Carolina Panthers may take if they decide to trade down and acquire more picks. His 2019 play more than warrants a first-round selection as the player became a major disruptor for the Gamecocks.
His athletic ability defies a recorded size of 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds and this was further reflected in Kinlaw’s six sacks, 35 total tackles, two pass breakups, and a pair of fumble recoveries.
His explosiveness on the line of scrimmage is truly exceptional, as is his ability to identify blocking schemes, make things happen for himself, and free up space for others around him.
Kinlaw has surged up draft boards during the evaluation process. His rags to riches story is a fantastic one and can inspire other college recruits who are coming from the same background in the years to come.
He plays hard on every down and has the sort of urgency that NFL scouts are sure to be salivating over. While the No.7 pick might be reaching for Kinlaw, the Panthers’ decision-makers might decide to accumulate more than their eight current selections and that would put the player in play.
The prospect could even go in the top-ten given the hype surrounding him. Kinlaw’s skills are not as refined as Derrick Brown. But he has the chance to make a big impression at the next level in the right scheme.
Neville Gallimore – (Oklahoma)
Neville Gallimore is another fierce presence on the interior that is a borderline first-round prospect heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Oklahoma product is an extremely talented individual who has the ability to inspire a defense on any given play. He has decent size at 6-foot-2, 302 pounds and he can line up as a three-technique defensive tackle or on the nose.
This is the sort of versatility that Carolina Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule is sure to love in a player. Gallimore is a hard worker who recorded 29 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four sacks for the Sooners in 2019.
Teams normally like to see more rushing out of their defensive tackles these days thanks to the influence of players like Aaron Donald, which could mean Gallimore falls on draft day. He tested very well at the Combine and he might end up being a steal for any team drafting him this year.
The Panthers could do a lot worse than taking Gallimore with either their second or third-round picks. The player represents a formidable proposition to move off the line of scrimmage and his stout run defense is another very useful tool to call upon.
He is not going to be anything more than a two-down lineman, at least initially. Gallimore needs to add some more pass-rushing moves from the interior if he is going to maximize his potential at the next level.
Derrick Brown – (Auburn)
Picking Derrick Brown at No.7 would be a real steal for the Carolina Panthers. The defensive lineman is a sure-fire hit at the next level, and he could fall into their lap given the need for struggling teams to pick up a quarterback.
Brown is a relentless force and is one of the best defensive tackles to come out of the college system in recent memory. He possesses a high motor and is incredibly explosive off the block, which makes him incredibly difficult to stop.
The player has powerful hands and shifts opposing offensive lineman with ease. With a little more refinement in the pros, Brown could have a sensational NFL career.
He is equally adept at making an impact during running or passing situations. Brown is also a strong character who is ruthless in his pursuit of making plays.
There is little doubt he would be a tremendous addition to the Panthers’ defense. Brown is going to be a real problem from the moment he steps on the field and he comes into the league with the potential to become a Pro Bowler in no time at all.
Brown has surprising foot quickness for a player his size. His versatility is also something that sets him apart from other defensive lineman entering the NFL Draft in 2020.
If Chase Young is the top defensive player, then Brown is not far behind.
Justin Madubuike – (Texas A&M)
A massive disruptor despite his size, Justin Madubuike has been a hot topic of discussion during the college season regarding how much value he has in the NFL.
Madubuike’s explosiveness and ability to play different techniques make him an attractive prospect. If he can improve his level of consistency, then there is a real potential for him to become a star at the next level.
Madubuike is a high-character individual who displays violent finishing skills once he smells blood in his pursuit of the quarterback.
He recorded 11 sacks in his two college seasons as a starter and he is improving areas of need including run stopping. Another thing that will endear NFL scouts is his enthusiasm, as he is always playing the game with a smile on his face while still possessing that killer instinct.
The Carolina Panthers may have the chance to acquire Madubuike with their second-round pick this year. He is projected as a very later first round or early second selection and this represents good value given his ceiling.
His ability to get to the quarterback is something the Panthers are going to need if they are going to emerge as one of the season’s surprise packages.
Ross Blacklock – (TCU)
Ross Blacklock is a player that has built considerable momentum heading into the NFL Draft following a standout evaluation process.
The stud defensive tackle is a disruptive presence on the line of scrimmage and he enjoyed an excellent final season at TCU. He recorded 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks and he has tremendous upside given his formidable 6-foot-4, 305-pound frame.
Blacklock’s potential at the next level is limitless if he finds himself in the right situation. He is a very good run defender and he causes enough panic during passing downs to make an impact.
The player would be a good option for the Carolina Panthers thanks to his impressive athleticism, speed, and power for a man his size. If a team can coach him up during the initial stages of his transition and ensure he is focused on every down, then they will have a real prospect on their hands.
Although Blacklock needs to improve the way he reads the game at times, there is no doubting his ability to make a real name for himself in the NFL. His movement and agility were eye-catching features during his showcase at the NFL Scouting Combine and it would be a huge surprise to see the defensive tackle fall out of the first two rounds.