Carolina Panthers Draft: 5 surprise players they could select in Round 1

The Carolina Panthers have a lot of areas to address in the 2020 NFL Draft, especially when it comes to their defense. Here are five surprise players they could draft in Round 1 that might be shocking.

At this point in time, the Carolina Panthers have made it very clear it’s all about the defense as they head into the 2020 NFL Draft. Hopefully, general manager Marty Hurney stays true to his word that it’s the main focus when they’re on the clock with the No. 7 overall pick.

Of course, it should be noted, this could all be one big smokescreen. When it comes to the football side of things, the Panthers’ defense needs help bad at three key areas. They need better talent on their defensive line that can stop the run, a new pass-rushing linebacker, and a new cornerback or two to help bolster their secondary.

If Hurney can fix all that to a degree, it’ll help shape the Panthers’ defense to finally start having a real identity in the future. For the past few years now, they haven’t been able to stop anything thrown their way by opposing offenses. But what happens if Hurney throws a curveball to draft analysts and fans with a surprising first-round draft pick?

The Carolina Panthers might surprise many in the 2020 NFL Draft

This could be a huge reality that might make many consider Hurney a draft genius or one that has one foot out the door. Here are five surprise players the Panthers could very well draft in Round 1 that might be a complete shock to fans everywhere.

5). Offensive Tackle Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)

There is always a good reason to draft a premium offensive lineman in any draft, but in the case of the Panthers, they have other pressing needs to address with their first-round pick. The No. 7 overall pick could potentially be used on the best of the best at offensive tackle in Tristian Wirfs out of Iowa.

Sure, this wouldn’t be one of those attractive picks that gets fans all excited to tune in on game day but it’s important to always have good offensive linemen. The Panthers will likely draft a new offensive tackle in later rounds but it would sure be a huge surprise if they used the No. 7 pick on someone like Wirfs.

Especially if they decide to not use that pick to draft a premium player for their defensive line or overall pass rush. Anything can and will happen when it comes to this year’s draft so a surprise like this might make sense in the grand scheme of things.

A good offensive line can help a team win football games due to having strong pass protection or being able to run the football effectively. A bad one, much like it is now with the Panthers, can bring nothing but nightmares on a weekly basis. This is a surprise move that could very well happen if Hurney considers just how bad the Panthers’ offensive line has been over the last few years with an opportunity to fix it.