4 Carolina Panthers on the hot seat after 2021 NFL Draft picks

Phil Snow – Carolina Panthers DC

The Carolina Panthers made some promising strides on defense over the second half of the 2020 season and especially down the stretch. This went somewhat unnoticed in large part to Teddy Bridgewater’s failure to get the team over the one in close games, but it would not be a surprise to see this unit become one of the league’s more explosive next time around.

This responsibility will fall primarily on the shoulders of Phil Snow. The defensive coordinator had his fair share of critics during his initial transition to the NFL, but the lack of talent in certain areas and key injuries didn’t do him any favors whatsoever.

There will be no such excuses this time around. Snow now has an embarrassment of riches to call upon that was further strengthened with the likes of Jaycee Horn, Keith Taylor, and Daviyon Nixon during the draft, which will aid his cause in multiple areas.

Perhaps the most telling change will be Snow’s ability to use press coverage more efficiently in his scheme. This was a frustrating element for the Panthers in 2020 – especially on third downs – so hopefully the arrivals of Horn and Taylor should enable them to get off the field a little more often.

If Snow fails to make the most out of some outstanding young players across the board, the pressure will be on in no uncertain terms.