Carolina Panthers: 4 players who could win awards in 2020

Carolina Panthers: DROY Award candidate – Jeremy Chinn (S)

The Carolina Panthers invested a lot in rookie safety Jeremy Chinn. They traded away one of their picks to move back into the second round for the talent. And he is another that could be a valued contributor from the word go.

There is a lot to like about the way Chinn goes about his business on the field. He is a superb athlete that has a real instinct both in coverage and during running situations.

The former Southern Illinois standout is a physical presence at the second level. And he possesses the sort of versatility that Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule sought from almost every one of his draft picks and free-agent signings.

Chinn is an incredibly exciting prospect that is going to get fans on the edge of their seats. When one looks at the early frontrunners for Defensive Rookie of the Year, then he is high on the shortlist.

Where the coaching staff decided to utilize him is another matter. Chinn’s preference is to play at safety. But he has no trouble operating as a slot cornerback in certain situations.

This is something that is going to do the player and the franchise the world of good going forward. And there is a real excitement building around a prospect that left Carolina’s decision-makers in doubt that he was the man to improve their backend.