5 key men behind the Carolina Panthers draft process in 2021
By Dean Jones
Matt Rhule – Carolina Panthers Head Coach
One of the biggest players when it comes to recruitment is obviously Matt Rhule. The head coach made an eye-catching impression across the organization when the Carolina Panthers prised him from Baylor on a seven-year, $60 million deal in 2020, but Year 2 of a pretty big rebuild will need to see them get somewhere in the region of .500 or better after going 5-11 for the second straight year.
Rhule has been keen to get as much out of a vastly changed evaluation period as he can despite the obvious concerns surrounding COVID-19. He was more than eager for the coaching to staff to attend the 2021 Senior Bowl to get a first-hand look at some talented prospects, which he freely admitted was an invaluable experience.
This was followed by racking up some significant air miles attending pro days across the country, which will give Rhule a better indication of what sort of players fit the sort of ethos he’s installed quickly in Carolina.
Owner David Tepper has given Rhule plenty of power when it comes to personnel decisions, perhaps more or equal to any head coach in the league. This is a tremendous vote of confidence and if he can make use of his extensive knowledge of the college system once again, the Panthers will reap the rewards in no uncertain terms.