Panthers depth chart: Pre-camp 53-man roster projection for 2021
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers depth chart: Defensive Ends
- Brian Burns, Yetur Gross-Matos, Marquis Haynes, Haason Reddick.
Hopes are high for the Carolina Panthers depth chart where the defensive ends are concerned. The team struggled to generate pressure consistently in 2020 – especially early on – so if strides are made in this crucial area it’s going to have a hugely positive effect.
Brian Burns is a player destined for superstardom. His contribution and leap forward in Year 2 of his professional career were eye-catching, to say the least. So a double-digit sack campaign is a minimum expectation for the former first-round selection in 2021.
Burns will be aided by the presence of Haason Reddick on the opposite side.
The free-agent signing secured 12.5 sacks for the Arizona Cardinals during the previous campaign. If a reunion with his former college coach Matt Rhule leads to further improvements, the sky is the limit for Reddick in pursuit of earning a big-money deal next spring.
Much is also expected of Yetur Gross-Matos, who showed flashes of excellence as a rookie despite suffering some injury problems and a spell on the COVID-19 list. The Penn State product might not be a starter thanks to Reddick’s arrival, but he’ll still have a key part to play.
Marquis Haynes is coming off a campaign where he notched four sacks from 37 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. Something similar or better in the final year of his contract could see him earn a longer-term stay with the organization if the price is right.