5 underrated free agents the Panthers could target before 2021 camp
By Dean Jones
Ezekiel Ansah – DE
- 2020 team – San Francisco 49ers
The Carolina Panthers got a lot better on their defensive front this offseason. Struggling to generate pressure in opposing backfields should now be a thing of the past and this unit might become one of the team’s strongest weapons if Derrick Brown, Brian Burns, and free-agent signing Haason Reddick all reach their required targets.
Depth isn’t really an issue in this particular area of the field.
However, no team can ever have too many players capable of getting after the quarterback.
If the Panthers are after another option with a high upside, then someone like Ezekiel Ansah might be worth a flier. The edge rusher is a supreme physical specimen that has enjoyed plenty of dominant moments throughout his career without ever finding the consistency expected of a top-five pick.
The Detroit Lions took a significant gamble when they selected Ansah at No. 5 overall. He managed to secure 30 sacks in his first three seasons but has only reached double-figures once since with a 12.5-sack campaign in 2017.
Things have tailed off for Ansah over the last three years. The former BYU standout spent 2020 with the San Francisco 49ers but was active just twice.
Ansah is on the wrong side of 30-years-old now, which is another red flag. However, if he can return to anything like his old self, then he might be worth considering as a rotational piece.