5 silent assassins on defense the Panthers could draft in 2021
By Dean Jones
Joseph Ossai – DE/OLB (Texas)
At least from a physical standpoint, Joseph Ossai looks like a first-round pick. The former Texas prospect is an eye-catching presence coming off the edge, but there appears to be little in the way of chatter about him despite his obvious upside.
Ossai plays the game with the sort of energy head coach Matt Rhule clearly loves. His enthusiasm and explosiveness are there for all to see and although there is some work to be done from a technical standpoint, the ceiling is incredibly high.
At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, there is a good chance Ossai can get even better from a production standpoint once his body fills out a little more. There is also the conundrum of whether the edge rusher is best suited as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt or standing up as an outside linebacker, two positions he’s manned during his time with the Longhorns.
The Carolina Panthers bolstered their pass-rush significantly with the additions of Haason Reddick and Morgan Fox in free agency. Big things are also expected of Brian Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos in 2021, so if the organization could get their hands on a productive prospect like Ossai to further add to their rotation, the sky is the limit.