Now the dust has settled on the Carolina Panthers draft, we can now assess just how well the franchise did with their selections.
It proved to be an NFL Draft that will live long in the memory for the Carolina Panthers. The organization made some bold moves to become the first team in league history to use each of their selections on defense.
This was an area of significant need going into the draft. General manager Marty Hurney and new head coach Matt Rhule have made a real effort to go younger this offseason and build from the ground up. This was further reflected in the method in which they chose the newest members of the Panthers’ roster.
Former Auburn standout Derrick Brown was the No. 7 overall selection, which was projected by many draft experts during the evaluation process. There was some dismay among fans that the Panthers went with the defensive tackle over Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who slipped out of the top-five and was also available.
That should not detract from what a dominant presence Brown is on the defensive interior. He eats up space and is a formidable body to move off the block. Pairing him alongside Kawann Short in a 4-3 base defense is going to vastly improve a front that had severe difficulty stopping the run in 2019.
The Panthers also bolstered their pass-rush with the second-round pick of Penn State product Yetur Gross-Matos. He is an exceptionally gifted athlete who can operate either at defensive end or as a stand-up rusher from the outside linebacker position.
He has all the attributes a team is looking for when selecting someone that can get to the quarterback. Hurney was even considering moving back into the first round to secure his service. But he managed to fall into their lap at No. 38.
The Panthers did trade up into the second round to acquire safety Jeremy Chinn out of Southern Illinois. He is another that boasts some superb physical attributes and is going to be a tremendous asset to the defense when he fully develops his skill set.
Chinn is a physical hitter that has no trouble going down to the second level and assist in the run game. The prospect also covers well across the middle and will be a big help in this particular area.
Panthers Draft: The mid-to-late round picks
The Carolina Panthers draft process continued to focus heavily on defense during the mid-to-late rounds. This included the arrival of speedy cornerback Troy Pride Jr. out of Notre Dame at No. 113 overall.
Pride Jr. has some high upside thanks to his athletic traits. He is incredibly fast and fluid with his movements down the field. If the player can work out some elements of his game that need early development during training camp, he can become a day one starter for the franchise.
Carolina’s fifth-rounder was spent on safety Kenny Robinson, who became the first player from the XFL drafted to the pros. The player has had a colorful history after being dismissed from West Virginia. But the references surrounding him were glowing and there is substantial potential to work with regarding the recruit.
Head coach Matt Rhule went back to Baylor with his sixth-round pick by taking defensive tackle Bravvion Roy. This was a high-value pick at the position and Rhule will know exactly how the player can help the Panthers in 2020 and beyond.
Roy is a big frame who excels in run support. He is a bundle of energy for a man his size and has the scope to progress his ability to get to the quarterback in the years to come.
Rounding off the Panthers draft was seventh-round pick Stantley Thomas-Oliver III. The cornerback is seen as a development project early on. But he could be a useful tool to have on special teams during the early time in the NFL thanks to his speed and impressive tackling ability.
Panthers Draft: The verdict
The Carolina Panthers draft might go down in history. But whether it has boosted the long-term aspirations of the franchise remains to be seen.
They would have been prudent to select an offensive guard following the trade of Pro Bowler Trai Turner. Another area of need was tight end to provide competition for Ian Thomas following the free-agent departure of Greg Olsen.
That being said, there is plenty to like about the way Panthers draft went. One could that argue that in Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos they have two prospects with a Pro Bowl ceiling in an area of the field that played a leading role in the eventual 5-11 record in 2019.
The Panthers draft also saw them potentially get two starters on opening day in Jeremy Chinn and Troy Pride Jr. in the secondary. The NFC South is going to an unforgiving environment in 2020, so it is set to be a real baptism of fire for the duo that could further enhance their chances of making a go of things in the pros.
Another that has the potential to make an instant impression is Kenny Robinson, who has professional experience and knows how to conduct himself in this type of environment. Bravvion Roy fixes to be a rotational player during his early time with the franchise. But there is nothing to suggest he cannot go on to become a starter alongside Derrick Brown when the Panthers and Kawann Short eventually go their separate ways.
Stantley Thomas-Oliver III is a ‘wait and see’ player, which is expected from a seventh-round pick. This Panthers draft is one that is littered with promise and something the organization’s decision-makers deserve a tremendous amount of credit for.
Panthers draft grade: A-