10 potential Panthers draft targets whose stock rose at Senior Bowl
By Dean Jones
Which 2021 NFL Draft prospects who could be targeted by the Carolina Panthers saw their stock rise during the Senior Bowl?
Considering how many changes are occurring throughout the evaluation process this year, coaching at the 2021 Senior Bowl was an invaluable experience for the Carolina Panthers as they look to find the right prospects to aid with their progression. Matt Rhule got after his America Team on occasions when he felt the energy wasn’t right and how each player adapted to these challenges is something that the staff will examine closely when it’s time to create their big board for the NFL Draft.
Getting a first-hand look not only at their approach to practice but also their physical attributes is going to make all the difference. The Panthers need to strike it lucky with their selections once again this year with so much uncertainty surrounding the salary-cap and in Scott Fitterer, they have a man who gained a solid reputation for finding some gems in the later rounds during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.
Carolina Panthers might have found another Jeremy Chinn.
This was a hugely disrupted college season thanks to COVID-19. So getting additional time to impress scouts in Mobile, Alabama is something that brought around outstanding production from those looking to make a name for themselves in the professional ranks.
The game itself was entertaining, with the National Team emerging victorious over Rhule’s men. However, the result wasn’t what mattered here and if Carolina gets themselves another Jeremy Chinn out of this experience, it was worth it.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at 10 college prospects whose stock rose during what was a well organized Senior Bowl week.
Prospect No. 1
Benjamin St-Juste – CB (Minnesota)
Although Benjamin St-Juste might be an afterthought in everybody’s minds when it comes to the draft, the cornerback turned in a high-quality performance that won’t have gone unnoticed by scouts.
The Minnesota prospect looked assured in coverage throughout the contest and even came up with a couple of nice pass breakups in the first half to further enhance his overall influence. It remains to be seen whether this will be enough for St-Juste to hear his name called, but he could be a hot commodity in the undrafted free-agent market once the draft comes to a conclusion.