5 players Panthers should monitor in National Championship game
By Dean Jones
Patrick Surtain – CB (Alabama)
Another area where the Carolina Panthers could use some additional reinforcements is cornerback. Donte Jackson has all the makings of a shutdown player at the position providing he stays free of injury moving forward. But an upgrade might be needed further down the depth chart to progress the defensive unit moving forward.
Patrick Surtain is a prospect with an extremely high ceiling. He is left on an island for the most part by Alabama and his man coverage skills are nothing short of exceptional for someone so young.
There appears little doubt that Surtain’s name will be one of the first called when the 2021 NFL Draft begins. He is a supreme athlete who is only going to get better once he gets to the next level and if he thwarts the Ohio State passing attack on his side of the field on the biggest stage, the player’s stock could go through the roof.
Surtain has just four interceptions over his three years with the Crimson Tide. But that is down to the fact that opposing offenses rarely throw in his direction.
He is just that good.
Carolina might take a quarterback with their first-rounder. There is also the prospect of addressing other areas but passing on someone like Surtain is something they should think twice about.