Re-grading the Panthers 2020 NFL Draft class after the season
By Dean Jones
Yetur Gross-Matos – Carolina Panthers DE
Yetur Gross-Matos fell out of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, which saw the Carolina Panthers waste no time whatsoever in taking the edge rusher at No. 38 overall. Although it’s been a frustrating campaign for the player thanks to injury and a spell on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the former Penn State standout has shown enough to suggest he could make a significant contribution in the years to come.
Gross-Matos is incredibly explosive if a little rough around the edges. His transition to the pro ranks has been smoother than many anticipated and hopefully, his injury problems are now a thing of the past.
Draft Grade: B
He will get the first shot at starting opposite stud defensive end, Brian Burns, in 2021 and considering he attained 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, and 11 pressures from just 34 percent of Carolina’s defensive snaps, next year could see Gross-Matos make some real strides.
Jeremy Chinn – Carolina Panthers OLB
Simply put, moving back into the second round in order to take Jeremy Chinn at No. 64 overall is one of the Panthers’ best draft moves in recent memory. The player made an instant impression from the moment he walked onto the field at training camp and this made the smoothest of transitions to competitive action.
Chinn won the starting job at outside linebacker opposite Shaq Thompson and was sensational despite his inexperience at the position. The Southern Illinois product was everywhere at the second level on his way to 117 tackles, two tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, one sack, two forced fumbles, five passes defended, six pressures, and two unforgettable touchdowns in consecutive plays at the Minnesota Vikings.
Draft Grade: A+
If Chinn doesn’t win Defensive Rookie of the Year, then he won’t have missed out by much. Washington’s Chase Young is in the playoffs and is by far the bigger name. But superstardom awaits Carolina’s next star if he makes the necessary strides in the coming months.