5 biggest Panthers’ 2021 NFL Draft needs at the midseason point
By Dean Jones
Offensive Guard
Possible Options:
- Creed Humphrey (Oklahoma)
- Wyatt Davis (Ohio State)
- Trey Smith (Tennessee)
- Josh Myers (Ohio State)
- Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC)
- Deonte Brown (Alabama)
The Carolina Panthers have gotten some nice production from their offensive line overall. This was an area of substantial concern coming into the campaign and although it has been encouraging, some of the problems that blighted the team last season have begun to show over the last few games.
This is particularly evident in the interior. Free-agent signing John Miller has played well on the whole, but the regression of left guard Chris Reed is a problem that needs to be sorted out sooner rather than later.
It remains to be seen whether the Panthers will keep center Matt Paradis and his $7 million in base salary around in 2021. His level of production has been impressive barring a poor display against the Falcons on Thursday Night Football and changing this position might have ramifications for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Getting a stud college prospect that can be a plug-and-play starter at the guard spot is essential early in the 2021 NFL Draft. Carolina needs to protect Bridgewater as much as possible and when they’ve managed to do this during the current campaign, the signal-caller has thrived more often than not.
The current options are feasible enough, but getting younger would provide even more stability.