Why did Daviyon Nixon fall and should the Panthers be worried?

Why Daviyon Nixon fell

This is a big question that obviously needs to be answered. Daviyon Nixon’s ability to cause havoc from the defensive line interior was there for all to see in college, so for him to freefall from his pre-draft projection is a potential red flag that needs monitoring.

The writers at WalterFootball.com delved a little deeper into Nixon’s slide. Citing team sources, they stated that there were some major character concerns regarding the lineman, with some organizations taking him off their board completely such was their concern.

"In speaking to team sources, there were major character concerns with Nixon that sunk his draft grade. Some teams had dropped him from their boards because of his character issues, and the feedback from the Iowa staff was not positive. Nixon is going to have to make some serious changes with his off-the-field habits in order to stick in the NFL and avoid suspensions."

For teams to ignore Nixon’s gifts on the field entirely thanks to his reported poor character references is telling. The Carolina Panthers obviously saw enough in him to think he might be able to focus a little more on the task at hand at the next level, but if these problems resurface in the pros, there won’t be nearly as much leniency as there was for him at the college level.

He was a big fish in a small pond in Iowa. Nixon enters the NFL in a completely different situation.

This is nothing more than a mid-round flier on the prospect, so it’s low-risk from Carolina’s point of view. But it’s vital for Nixon to use this humbling experience in a positive manner once rookie minicamp, OTAs, and training camp begin in the not-too-distant future.