What exactly do the Carolina Panthers have at LB in 2021?
By Dean Jones
What exactly do the Carolina Panthers have within their linebacker room heading into the 2021 season?
Not having legendary linebacker Luke Kuechly manning the defense is something that was sorely felt by the Carolina Panthers last season. The five-time All-Pro called it day to preserve his long-term health after the 2019 campaign and the moves made by the organization just didn’t do enough to fill the void.
Whether this is something that can improve next time around remains to be seen. Kuechly’s production and overall influence cannot ever truly be replaced and the Panthers have some significant work to do in pursuit of strengthening this area when it matters most.
Carolina was spoiled over the years at linebacker with the likes of Kuechly, Thomas Davis, and Jon Beason.
But now is the time for others to step up and rise to the occasion.
The Panthers have plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Certainly enough to suggest that they could become one of the league’s best units if everything goes well from the outset.
If the linebackers live up to their end of the bargain, the sky is the limit.
High stakes, obviously. But the Panthers now need to turn themselves from a competitive outfit against top teams and into one that can get over the line and potentially enter the postseason discussion.
Without further ado, here is what Carolina has and what to expect from their linebacking corps in 2021.