5 lively outsiders for the Panthers first round pick in 2021
By Dean Jones
Alijah Vera-Tucker – OG (USC)
One of the big takeaways from Scott Fitterer’s introductory press conference with the Carolina Panthers was his desire to acquire more 2021 NFL Draft picks. This could see the decision-makers trade down in either the first or second round if they receive a big offer from another team, which could see someone like Alijah Vera-Tucker enter the equation.
Taking the USC stud at No. 8 overall appears a bit of a reach.
However, if the Panthers trade down to the mid-teens, then Vera-Tucker becomes part of the discussion.
The interior lineman fills arguably the team’s biggest needs after a long-term solution at quarterback. Vera-Tucker is an excepotional athlete for a player his size and although he spent time as a left tackle for the Trojans, his skill set is more suited to guard once he gets to the next level.
Vera-Tucker is an extremely fluid mover who finishes off plays efficiently. His positioning is already NFL-ready and the player also has the necessary aggressiveness to make a real difference on running downs.
This is an immensely deep draft for offensive linemen. So the Panthers might decide to wait until the lower rounds to find some value in this area of the field.
If they opt to use one of their top-end selections on improving protection, then they’d be foolish not to consider Vera-Tucker if they trade down.