5 Panthers not named Sam Darnold with the most at stake in 2021

Haason Reddick – Carolina Panthers DE/OLB

Haason Reddick took the NFL by storm in 2020, finally living up to his first-round price tag in a big way.

After three years of middling, and to be blunt, disappointing performance out of the former Temple standout, Reddick exploded for 12.5 sacks in the final year of his rookie deal. This performance came out of nowhere as his previous season-high was only four and in the other two campaigns, he only managed just one quarterback takedown apiece.

While this achievement is certainly nothing to scoff at, there are some things to be concerned about. Plenty of players have what’s known as a “flash in the pan”. A moment where they seemingly put it all together, only to fall on their face at the next opportunity.

Now I am not saying that Reddick will regress to the point of being ineffective in 2021. However, it is reasonable to believe there will be some regression back to his usual stat line. Especially when you consider that five of his sacks came in one game against a rather weak New York Giants line.

Reddick has maybe the most to prove out of anyone on the Carolina Panthers not named Sam Darnold this season.

The rusher needs to prove to the league that he can consistently be the disruptive presence that the Arizona Cardinals drafted him to be. Someone who can sit on the edge and put fear into the hearts of whatever quarterback is dumb enough to stand on the other side.

Even if he doesn’t keep up that prolific sack rate from 2020, Reddick needs to at least prove capable of being the competent running mate to rising star Brian Burns that the Panthers desperately need.

If teams have to worry about both sides of the line, it will make both of them better as well as take pressure off the interior. And an even better Burns is a truly terrifying proposition.

So if Reddick can build off his impressive 2020 campaign, he’s looking at a big payday come the next offseason. But if he regresses back into his former self, his days as a starter will be all but over and the former first-round pick will be relegated to a rotational backup for the rest of his career.

Two polar opposite outcomes, but that is just how important this season is for Reddick. A true career-defining year and one that can mean a difference of millions.