5 prospects Panthers should watch closely at Oregon’s pro day
By Dean Jones
Which 2021 NFL Draft prospects should the Carolina Panthers be watching closely at Oregon’s pro day this week?
Preparations are going up a notch where the Carolina Panthers are concerned ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. Some significant air miles have been accumulated by some influential figures within the organization in recent weeks as pro days take place across the country, with these events taking on more significance than even this spring considering there was no real Scouting Combine for scouts and decision-makers to utilize.
The Panthers hit home runs with the majority of their selections in the first year of Matt Rhule’s tenure. Their task to do the same this year will be further aided by the presence of new general manager Scott Fitterer, who developed a knack for picking prolific starters across all rounds during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. So big things are expected in a bid to assist Carolina during a critical stage of their rebuild.
Carolina Panthers should watch Oregon’s pro day with interest.
There will be plenty of exciting players to look at when Oregon holds their pro day on April 2. The Ducks have produced some exceptional NFL talent over the years, with the program given a significant shot in the arm thanks to the outstanding transition to the next level of quarterback Justin Herbert, who won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Los Angeles Chargers after being taken No. 6 overall.
A blue-chip signal-caller isn’t coming from Oregon this year. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of enticing prospects that could go on to have successful pro careers.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at five Oregon standouts who the Panthers should monitor closely when they take the field for individual drills.
Prospect No. 1
Jevon Holland – CB/S
One of the problem areas that need to be addressed for the Carolina Panthers during the draft is within their secondary. There doesn’t appear to be a substantial amount of depth and even though they’ll probably move stud rookie Jeremy Chinn back to his preferred position of safety, more will be needed.
Matt Rhule loves hybrid players that can make their presence felt in multiple positions. Jevon Holland definitely fits into this category and has the sort of skill set that might see him taken in the first two rounds later this month.
Holland possesses exceptional athleticism and reactions, which are two traits Carolina could use more of in their attempts to stop the passing game. Whether his best position is at safety or on the outside as a cornerback is unclear at this time. But this versatility is something the Panthers sought heavily from their draft prospects in 2020 with great success.