Panthers 2021 Draft: Studs and duds from Day 1 at Senior Bowl
By Dean Jones
Which college players caught the eye during their first day with the Carolina Panthers coaching staff at the 2021 Senior Bowl?
One of the more critical periods of the 2021 offseason is well underway. Teams are now well into the process of evaluating college prospects ahead of this year’s NFL Draft, with the Carolina Panthers getting a head start by working with some talented individuals first hand at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
Day one of practice is now in the books and was full of weather problems. Heavy rain made things interesting during team drills and although the Panthers were without several assistant coaches due to COVID-19 complications, head coach Matt Rhule and new general manager Scott Fitterer were still on hand to get a first-hand look at how players of interest not only performed but also approached team drills.
This will all be invaluable additional information ahead of what is another important draft for the Panthers. They hit big with the majority of their 2020 selections and if they can do the same this time around, it is going to be a tremendous boost in pursuit of possibly entering the postseason discussion when competitive action gets underway in 2021.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some studs and duds from the first official day of Senior Bowl practice.
Stud No. 1
Kadarius Toney – WR (Florida)
Although he suffered an injury late in the practice, Kadarius Toney left his mark with an exceptional display that fully reflected the exciting skill set he brings to the table. The Florida wide receiver has seen his stock rise considerably during the 2020 campaign and with a strong evaluation process, he should be a late first-round pick this spring.
The Carolina Panthers do need some additional help at the wideout position if Curtis Samuel departs in free agency as expected. Toney has a lot of the same traits in terms of size, elusiveness, and pass-catching ability, but whether they’ll be in a position to select the player without trading down for more selections is another matter entirely.
Toney is an electrifying prospect who might just find himself on a Super Bowl contender from the word go if the draft plays out as projected.