4 players the Panthers wish they would have drafted in 2020
By Dean Jones
Which players do the Carolina Panthers probably wish they’d have taken a second look at with their 2020 NFL Draft selections?
It was a pretty good draft overall in 2020 for the Carolina Panthers. The decision-makers became the first in NFL history to allocate every selection to the defensive side of the ball, which brought around some significant improvements over the course of the season that should stand them in good stead in the years to come.
The 2021 NFL Draft promises to be another crucial series of picks for the Panthers. New general manager Scott Fitterer has a solid reputation of finding the right recruits and considering Matt Rhule’s knowledge of the college game just one year removed from the Baylor job, hopes are immensely high for the organization to bring in some real difference-makers.
This was recently fired Marty Hurney’s final draft, which saw Derrick Brown and Jeremy Chinn emerge as potential Pro Bowlers of the future, and others such as Bravvion Roy also set to contribute down the line despite being late rounders.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have. But here are four players that the Panthers probably wish they’d have taken in the 2020 NFL Draft following their rookie campaigns.
Player No. 1
Mykal Walker – LB
- Round 4 – Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers pick – Troy Pride Jr.
The Panthers endured a torrid time at middle linebacker following the shock retirement of Luke Kuechly. Free-agent signing Tahir Whitehead was a bust and although Jermaine Carter did well when he finally got a chance to shine, whether he is the long-term solution remains to be seen.
Mykal Walker impressed considerably for Carolina’s NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons as a rookie, producing a number of eye-catching performances that leave every reason to be encouraged about his potential.
His versatility to line up as an outside linebacker or on the interior is a massive boost that would have served the Panthers well. Few would argue he’d be a better option now than fourth-round pick Troy Pride Jr. following a season full of struggles for the speedy cornerback.