Can Jeremy Chinn become a Pro Bowl player?
By Dean Jones
The Carolina Panthers draft team might have struck big with second-round pick Jeremy Chinn, according to a recent report from ESPN Analytics.
Jeremy Chinn is the sort of athlete the Carolina Panthers draft team were looking for. The safety enjoyed a standout college career and has all the tools needed to make a real go of things at the next level.
The Panthers draft process eventually resulted in trading back into the second round to select Chinn. This was a bold move from a franchise that had only eight picks over the three days.
Chinn’s versatility and potential to make big plays is something that really stood out during the evaluation process. The Panthers draft was a historic one, with every pick being used on improving things on the defensive side of the ball.
A recent study by ESPN Analytics gave Chinn the best chance of reaching the Pro Bowl of any safety coming out of college this year. They gave the Southern Illinois product a 45 percent grade, which put him at No. 1 on the list ahead of Grant Delpit of the Cleveland Browns on 41%.
Other players on the list included Antoine Winfield Jr. (34%), Xavier McKinney (31%), and Ashtyn Davis (26%).
Chinn has the ability to play both safety positions. There is also the option of putting the player as a slot cornerback or even at outside linebacker should the opportunity arise.
This is something that no doubt endeared him to the Panthers draft team. But it will be interesting to see just how Chinn adapts to life in the NFL on a young-looking defense that is expected to go through more than its fair share of growing pains in 2020