4 Clemson prospects the Panthers should consider drafting in 2021
By Dean Jones
Travis Etienne – RB
Although it might not be a real need for the Carolina Panthers with Christian McCaffrey set to make a return to full health after a frustrating 2020 season with injuries, this might become more pressing if the organization does the unthinkable and trades the star running back in a move to land Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans.
There is no doubt the Panthers will look for another option to put behind McCaffrey if Mike Davis leaves in free agency. But someone with the exceptional potential of Travis Etienne might be out of reach if recent projections are any indication.
The Clemson star is set to go anywhere from the mid-first round to early in the second, which means Carolina would need to select him No. 39 overall providing he’s on the board.
This would be a steal for any team which doesn’t have the benefit of having an All-Pro like McCaffrey in the backfield. Etienne is a phenomenal runner who boasts an eye-popping 7.2 yards-per-carry average over his college career with the Tigers and has a dual-threat ability that is all the rage in today’s NFL.
Etienne is a big play waiting to happen and can also get hard yards between the tackles when needed. He is a nightmare for opposing players out of the slot and providing the prospect can improve his blocking once he gets to the pros, it could make him a dynamic all-around force from the word go.
Positional importance and needs might come into play in terms of just where Etienne is going to end up being drafted. But that should not detract from what a special player he is.