How NFC South first-round picks could impact the Panthers in 2021

The Carolina Panthers’ pick is in and the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft behind us. With it, plenty of impact players have now joined the NFC South division.

The Carolina Panthers opted to draft cornerback Jaycee Horn with the No. 8 overall selection, giving them a solid player at the position to build around and put alongside No. 1 option Donte Jackson. While the former South Carolina standout was a surprise addition, he is expected to be a high-impact prospect and will be a welcome addition to a rebuilding defense.

Let’s take a look at how the rest of the NFC South fared in the first round and how much it will impact the Panthers in 2021 and possibly beyond.

Kyle Pitts is a problem for the Carolina Panthers

This is without a doubt the highest impact pick in this division. For a team that already has a myriad of offensive weapons, Kyle Pitts is going to be a matchup nightmare for the Panthers.

Corners are going to be far too small to stop Pitts and linebackers are going to be too slow. Simply put, the former Florida tight end is going to cause havoc from the moment he steps onto the field.

Pitts has a chance to reinvent the position. He has the quickness and ability of a receiver and the size of a tight end.

Outside of Trevor Lawrence, he seemed to be the only other can’t miss prospect entering the NFL this year.

Giving Matt Ryan a prolific weapon such as Pitts is bad news for the Panthers and the rest of the NFC South. While he doesn’t solve the Atlanta Falcons‘ defensive issues, the prospect will make their offense virtually impossible to stop.