Carolina Panthers draft: Is Patrick Surtain too good to pass up?
By Dean Jones
How Patrick Surtain fits on the Carolina Panthers?
This seems like a great fit in the grand scheme of things. The Carolina Panthers already have their speed demon on the outside in Donte Jackson, so if they can acquire someone who is capable of locking up the more polished route-runners it would help them enormously.
Patrick Surtain is more than capable of this providing he acclimatizes well to a professional environment. The Panthers would probably also need another strong veteran presence considering how much Troy Pride Jr. struggled as a rookie. But if they decide to pull the trigger on the Alabama star, it would give them a prominent duo.
This now seems to be the missing piece to a defense that made some notable strides in 2020. Carolina did a nice job of bolstering their defensive front in the early part of free agency and the addition of linebacker Denzel Perryman should sure up the second level, giving Jeremy Chinn the chance to move back to his preferred position of safety.
All signs point to big things from Phil Snow’s unit next season. But if they fail to get the right pieces to put with Jackson in the cornerback room, it is going to cost them.
Surtain fits the bill, of that there is little doubt.
However, there is the ever-growing cloud surrounding the quarterback position that will take priority. Carolina might end up passing on Surtain for something bolder, which could be a decision they eventually regret.