Carolina Panthers: Can Bravvion Roy become Kawann Short’s successor?

New Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Bravvion Roy is relishing the prospect of linking up with his college head coach Matt Rhule in the NFL.

It was almost inevitable the Carolina Panthers would draft a Baylor prospect following the appointment of Matt Rhule as head coach. That player was defensive tackle Bravvion Roy.

The sixth-round product was one of seven new players on defense taken by Carolina’s decision-makers during the NFL Draft. This was the first time in history a team had allocated all picks on the defensive side of the ball.

Roy is an imposing figure on the interior that could eventually become a long-term replacement to Kawann Short. While the veteran is expected to bounce back in 2020 following shoulder surgery, the Panthers now boast a formidable defensive line rotation that could see plenty of changes depending on game situations.

There is little doubt Roy is excited to be reunited with Rhule in Carolina and had this to say on the Panthers website.

"“He knows what I’m about, I know what he’s about. We all want the same thing. I stayed in contact with Carolina a lot. That was probably top three that I stayed in contact with and once we got close to the fifth, sixth round I knew, “Okay, now it’s a real possibility.” “They are like a second family with me. I have been with them the past two or three years. I tell everybody that Coach Rhule is like a second father to me. The stuff that he teaches and the knowledge and the wisdom that he speaks with you just can’t take it for granted. You’ve got to soak everything in that he talks about. You’ve got to listen because most of the times when he tells you something, he means it. He doesn’t just tell you because he is trying to kiss up or nothing like that. He is a real dude. He’s an authentic dude.”"

There is an untold amount of options that the Panthers now have the ability to utilize going forward. But where Roy fits in both long term and next season remains to be seen.