Is Jeremy Chinn the Panthers’ player to watch in 2020?

Carolina Panthers’ safety Jeremy Chinn has been named as a player to watch in 2020 by Pro Football Focus.

The Carolina Panthers might have struck gold in the NFL Draft this year with Jeremy Chinn. Despite having only eight selections going in, the franchise sacrificed one pick to move back into the second round and take the Southern Illinois product No. 64 overall.

This might be seen as a gamble by the Carolina Panthers draft team. But Chinn boasts everything new head coach Matt Rhule has been looking for this offseason. He is versatile, strong, and has tremendous physical attributes that can easily make a smooth transition to the NFL.

While there are some elements of his game that the prospect will need to work on, his upside is through the roof. How Chinn harnesses this during training camp is going to be key and may determine how big his role will be in 2020.

A recent article by Pro Football Focus highlighted Chinn as a player to watch for the Panthers next season. He is expected to see a lot of the field either at safety or in the slot cornerback position. But where exactly he will line up is a matter probably yet to be decided.

PFF writer Ben Linsey had this to say on Chinn’s potential to make an instant impression with the Panthers.

"“Chinn is undeniably raw coming out of Southern Illinois. He has all the size and athleticism to be a dominant player in the box, but he doesn’t play to that physicality and lacks the processing speed to be an impactful player out of the gates. Those uncoachable physical traits could push him onto the field sooner rather than later, though, particularly with the state of the strong safety depth chart in front of him.”"

While it might be expected too much for Chinn to break the starting lineup on opening day, his progress throughout the campaign is going to be key in any long-term success that comes their way.

The player has all the right characteristics coaching staff look for in a player coming out of college. And Chinn is also a high-character individual that will come across well during preparation and within the locker room.