4 undrafted free agents the Carolina Panthers should target in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which college prospects that went undrafted should the Carolina Panthers consider bringing on board following the NFL Draft?
It didn’t take long for the frenzied period of undrafted free-agent activity to begin once the 2021 NFL Draft came to a conclusion. Some promising prospects failed to hear their name called for a number of different reasons and teams across the league including the Carolina Panthers wasted little time in making offers to further strengthen their options ahead of OTAs and training camp.
The Panthers moved swiftly to acquire interior lineman David Moore out of Grambling State, who made a big impression during their time coaching at the 2021 Senior Bowl. Extra competition at the punter position was sought in the form of Oscar Draguicevich III from Washington State, with Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher, Wisconsin full-back Mason Stokes, and running back Spencer Brown out of UAB also joining the ranks immediately following the draft.
Carolina still has a few allocated spots to fill and there are some enticing options that should be considered. The Panthers got some starting production from the undrafted pool last year with Myles Hartsfield and Sam Franklin, so hopefully, they can strike gold again in the coming days.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at four undrafted college prospects that might be worth considering before they get snapped up elsewhere.
Carolina Panthers 2021 undrafted free-agent possibilities
Prospect No. 1
Marcus Murphy – S (Mississippi State)
Although the Panthers boosted important areas of the field during the 2021 NFL Draft, it was somewhat surprising they didn’t draft a legitimate safety at any stage. They might appear confident in the partnership of Jeremy Chinn and Juston Burris next season, but the need for a long-term partner for the former Southern Illinois standout cannot be understated.
It’s a position they have yet to address in undrafted free agency, either. So if the Panthers plan to rectify this in the not-too-distant future then someone like Marcus Murphy could enter their thoughts.
Murphy has good size and athleticism that should transition well to the next level. However, his decision-making is sometimes suspect and needs to improve if he wants to make a go of things in a professional environment.