Carolina Panthers Draft: Redrafting the 2020 class at the bye
By Dean Jones
Pick No. 38: Antoine Winfield Jr. – S
- Actual selection: Yetur Gross-Matos – DE
If Yetur Gross-Matos didn’t have bad luck, he wouldn’t have any luck at all. The defensive end has undergone a number of frustrations with injury and is now on the reserve/COVID-19 list to further compound his misery.
The pass-rusher has shown glimpses of enormous promise this season. Gross-Matos looks to have made a smooth adjustment to the next level on a rotational role and providing the next offseason period isn’t disrupted too much in the current climate, it should see the player come on a significant amount.
That being said, Antoine Winfield Jr. has all the makings of a prolific player. The knowledge passed on by his father – Antoine Winfield Sr. – has clearly served him well and his ability to come down to the second level with ferocity is something that’s really caught the eye.
Pick No. 64: Jeremy Chinn – OLB
It didn’t take long to figure out that Jeremy Chinn is going to be a star. The do-it-all defender came into the league with plenty of promise and backed this up with a starring performance at training camp that earned him the starting spot opposite Shaq Thompson at outside linebacker.
The former Southern Illinois standout took to the position extremely well despite his inexperience. His dynamic playmaking ability has been a prominent feature of his overall influence and Chinn has a rare ability to inspire others around him.
His two-touchdown showing at the Vikings formally announced Chinn on the national stage and he could well be the frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year at this juncture.