4 surprising moves the Panthers made during the 2021 NFL Draft

Not addressing the safety position

Considering how much Juston Burris struggled during his first season with the Carolina Panthers, it was a big surprise that they didn’t look to the 2021 NFL Draft for another talented prospect who could potentially slot in alongside Jeremy Chinn. This wasn’t considered to be a deep class for players at the position, so those in power decided to address other needs and look at other alternatives.

The Panthers might even decide to stick with what they have.

Chinn is an absolute stud in the making and having him on the backend might see Burris benefit as a result. But the depth behind the pair is slim at best unless the likes of Sam Franklin or Myles Hartsfield make a significant leap forward in their sophomore seasons.

There are still some intriguing options available for Carolina to potentially pursue in free agency with the limited resources available once they sign their rookie class. This would give the secondary a much-needed boost for what is sure to be an important campaign for the franchise in the second year of Matt Rhule’s tenure.

Getting a safety in the draft would have helped. The Panthers deserve credit for sticking to their board and bringing in prospects who fit what they are trying to build, even if that did mean ignoring one real position of need.