5 high-value draft picks the Carolina Panthers could steal in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which incoming college prospects could become high-value picks for the Carolina Panthers to potentially steal in the 2021 NFL Draft?
The free-agent frenzy is currently taking the primary focus across the league. But teams will also be incredibly busy coming up with their shortlists ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Getting the right pieces into the Carolina Panthers will be more crucial than ever in the current financial climate, with the salary-cap forcing the organization to adjust plans significantly. If they can achieve another strong period of recruitment, it would do their chances of mounting a postseason push the world of good next time around.
Carolina Panthers GM has found draft value in the past.
General manager Scott Fitterer has done a nice job in free agency so far. But there is much work to be done in problem position groups to get Matt Rhule’s men over the hump.
One thing the recent appointment has going for him is a strong reputation of finding real value over the draft weekend from his time at the Seattle Seahawks. If Fitterer can bring this to Carolina, it could completely shift the landscape regarding their aspirations.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at four draft prospects who could become high-value picks that the Panthers could steal next month.
Prospect No. 1
Jaylen Twyman – DT (Pittsburgh)
Although Jaylen Twyman might be going a little under-the-radar thanks to opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 health concerns, the Carolina Panthers should take a good look at what the defensive lineman brings to the table. He is a force to be reckoned with in run support and has supreme capabilities in pass-rushing situations to further enhance his overall influence on proceedings.
This is an area that the Panthers strengthened heavily in free agency with the additions of Haason Reddick and Morgan Fox. But they could still use a young, athletic prospect that has the scope to become a long-term partner for Derrick Brown on the interior.
It wasn’t that long ago that Twyman was projected to be a second-round pick. Not participating during the previous campaign has hurt his stock more than most and this is something that Carolina could take advantage of in the mid-rounds.
After all, this was a player who notched 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2019. No team in the NFL would turn away that sort of production from an interior lineman.