5 new NFC South players the Panthers should worry about in 2021
By Dean Jones
Giovani Bernard – RB
Considering the Tampa Bay Buccanneers brought all their free agents worth noting back into the fold in an attempt to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles, there were very few holes that needed filling in free agency or the 2021 NFL Draft. This is a luxury most teams across the league simply don’t have and the addition of running back Giovani Bernard only strengthened the embarrassment of riches at quarterback Tom Brady’s disposal.
Bernard is a dual-threat weapon who excels in the passing game. Brady generated a significant amount of success with the New England Patriots with a similar player alongside him in the backfield when James White was at the peak of his powers. If the former Cincinnati Bengal can produce similar numbers, the Bucs will be incredibly difficult to stop.
The Carolina Panthers will need to keep a close eye on where Bernard lines up whenever he is on the field. If the veteran is afforded enough time he can make things happen for big yardage and there should be plenty of space for him to work thanks to the presence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the outside.
Carolina doesn’t come up against the Bucs until late in the campaign, where they will play them twice in the last month. This might work in their favor to a certain extent, but if they need a couple of wins to secure a playoff spot by this point, it’s not the easiest place to get them.