Carolina Panthers full 7-round 2022 NFL mock draft ahead of Week 1
By Dean Jones
SirVocea Dennis – LB (Pittsburgh)
Although the Carolina Panthers boast some solid options within their linebacker corps this season, the organization has some big decisions to make regarding this group next spring. Shaq Thompson is due a big pay rise and may be released to free-up funds, with Jermaine Carter and Haason Reddick both out of contract in 2022.
This could lead to the second level becoming one of the team’s top priorities. Bringing in a veteran during free agency is an option worth considering, but there is projected to be some real talent in this area of the field entering the league from the college ranks next time around.
Someone like SirVocea Dennis should be watched closely this season. He was a standout performer during his sophomore year at Pittsburgh, accumulating 55 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and four sacks in just 10 games.
Dennis isn’t the most physically imposing linebacker in the world. But he is a sideline-to-sideline presence that has enough burst to cause havoc in opposing backfields should the opportunity arise.
Hopefully, for the Panthers, their current starting trio raises their respective games enough to help the defense in 2021. What comes after that is less certain and Dennis could be an exciting talent to further bolster Phil Snow’s options.