Re-grading Panthers position groups on defense after 2021 season

Carolina Panthers DEs

This was the group everyone couldn’t stop talking about in the offseason and for good reason. The boom or bust potential of the position was extremely high given how single-season breakouts can go either way very easily.

Haason Reddick proved to the league that his 2020 production with the Arizona Cardinals was no fluke and put together a truly remarkable performance. Even though he is technically listed as an outside linebacker, his pass rush nature leaves him on this page.

A season where a player can generate 11 sacks and not make the Pro Bowl is criminal and Reddick deserves the credit for being the game wrecker that we can all see he is. Without the Temple product, this defense would be lethargic and unable to generate any meaningful pressure.

Brian Burns on the other hand, while getting selected to his first Pro Bowl, took somewhat of a step back this season and that was sad to see. The young edge-rusher is still a star talent but that third-year leap just didn’t materialize and there were points during the season where he just didn’t look like the same player.

That burst and disruptive speed mixed with power seemed to stall out at points, especially against more skilled tackles.

While Yetur Gross-Matos was the player that took the largest leap this season, especially late in the year with a 2.5 sack game in only 29 snaps against a stout Buffalo Bills offensive line. Showing just how much potential this group has and how deep it can be.

And that is without mentioning another solid year from Marquis Haynes.

• Preseason Grade: A+
• Final Grade: A

This is the second-best group on this team and they played like it for large portions of the year. There is still room for development and improvement which is a terrifying prospect.

Bringing back Reddick should be of the highest priority this offseason. If the Panthers can pull off that coup, this position will continue trending upward for years to come.