4 Carolina Panthers players set for big things in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players could be set for big things when competitive action gets underway in 2021?
There promises to be an astonishing amount of player turnover on the Carolina Panthers this offseason. Almost half of the current roster is out of contract and facing an uncertain future, with many more established veterans possibly being released ahead of time to give the organization some much-needed breathing space from a salary-cap perspective in the current climate.
It was an encouraging start overall for Matt Rhule in his first season as an NFL head coach. His high standards and passion went across well both during media availability and within the locker room. But if the Panthers don’t get their recruitment right in the coming weeks, it will all be for nothing.
Carolina has an exciting young group of offensive playmakers and a defense that might some notable strides as the campaign progressed. Much more will be expected of these influential individuals with another preparation period to work on certain aspects of their game and if they can all make the necessary strides, it might see the Panthers enter the playoff discussion next time around.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at four Panthers players who could be set for bigger and better things in 2021.
Player No. 1
Derrick Brown – Carolina Panthers DT
There is no doubt the Panthers made a shrewd pick by taking Derrick Brown at No. 7 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The defensive tackle was a force to be reckoned with despite some extra attention coming his way once Kawann Short went to the reserve/injured list and this will do his confidence the world of good heading into the offseason period.
Brown looks to be the total package. This is something Carolina sorely missed in 2019 and his ability to get into the backfield consistently answered his pre-draft critics in emphatic fashion.
The sky is the limit for Brown, who could be the Panthers’ defensive anchor for the next decade if he stays injury-free. Improving on running downs normally comes for second-year players at the position and if the same applies to the former Auburn standout, he could become one of the league’s best in no time at all.