5 most underrated Carolina Panthers players heading into 2021
By Dean Jones
![(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) Donte Jackson (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) Donte Jackson](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fcatcrave-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1279037208-850x560-1ee7807aaf7c23d6c556493d008e50b8eb383121f0dae41e537f3501379e32c1.jpg)
Yetur Gross-Matos – Carolina Panthers DE
It’s hard to know just how good Yetur Gross-Matos can be as yet. The second-round pick made a lasting impression at certain stages of his rookie campaign, which was blighted by injury, concussion, and a spell on the COVID-19 list thrown in for good measure.
Gross-Matos was also forced to adjust in a restricted offseason period last summer. Not exactly the easiest proposition for any first-year-pro making the leap from college to the pros.
All things considered, the Carolina Panthers can be happy with the production of Gross-Matos. What comes next will be important, obviously. But there is plenty of hope progression can come with more structure and some preseason games returning to the schedule.
The Penn State product is an explosive force coming off the edge that caused some real havoc at times. Gross-Matos needs to contribute more in run support, but he should get additional time to develop as the primary rotational piece behind defensive end duo Haason Reddick and Brian Burns.
If Gross-Matos turns the Panthers into a three-headed edge-rushing monster, the sky is the limit. Generating pressure was a source of frustration early in 2020, but that doesn’t appear as if this is going to be much of a worry next time around.