Panthers draft: Areas of concern for Carolina’s top 4 picks
By Dean Jones
Jeremy Chinn – Man coverage
The Panthers draft team gave up one of their eight picks to move back into the second round and take Southern Illinois safety, Jeremy Chinn. He is a very likable character that has an intriguing skill set that could see him become a starter at the next level.
There is some debate as to where the Panthers coaching staff are going to utilize Chinn. Safety would be his preferred option. But there is also the potential for the player to come down to the second level and operate as a slot cornerback if needed.
This is still a real problem area for Carolina. The franchise might decide to bring in a veteran free-agent with what little money they have remaining on their salary cap. However, they might be forced to play with the hand they’ve been dealt and this now puts Chinn in a real predicament regarding his ability in man coverage.
His time in college did see the player struggle somewhat when he was faced one-on-one with an opposing receiver. This became even more evident on the outside in certain situations. Although this is something the Panthers aren’t going to ask of him, at least initially.
That being said, Chinn must put his superb athleticism to good use and work on his ability to cover sharp cuts and crossing routes across the middle. The player does have good instincts and has all the traits any coach is looking for in a player they want to develop.
If Chinn can work this part of his game out in the coming weeks. Then he is going to become a key contributor in no time at all.