4 draft prospects the Carolina Panthers should avoid at No. 8
By Dean Jones
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – LB (Notre Dame)
There might not be a need to address the linebacker position as there was when Tahir Whitehead occupied the No. 1 spot on the inside. The free-agent signing was an extreme disappointment in the immediate aftermath of Luke Kuechly’s retirement and once Jermaine Carter replaced him, things seemed to start trending on an upward curve.
This should ensure that Carter gets a chance to retain the top spot on the depth chart during training camp, providing there are no more disagreements with head coach Matt Rhule that made him a relative afterthought over the first half of the campaign.
Had things continued to be a concern even with Carter in the lineup, then Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah would have been high on the shortlist at No. 8 overall. The Notre Dame linebacker has all the physical traits needed to make a real go of things in an NFL environment and there is plenty to like about his potential to improve further with additional experience.
However, this should no longer be an option for the Panthers.
They have more pressing needs than a linebacker at the present time. There is also every chance Micah Parsons would be there anyway, who is a better draft option at the same position.
Owusu-Koramoah has a substantial amount of upside. But the simple fact of the matter is Carolina cannot have the luxury to take the best player available at this stage of their rebuild.