6 prospects on defense the Panthers should watch at 2022 Senior Bowl
By Dean Jones
Which NFL Draft prospects on defense should the Carolina Panthers keep a close eye on during the annual Senior Bowl week in Mobile?
The 2022 Senior Bowl is always one of the hottest evaluation occasions before the draft. Top players from across the country descend on Mobile, Alabama to potentially boost their stock before the NFL Scouting Combine, with general managers, coaches, and scouts all set to attend and pick apart some prospects who are on their radar.
This is an event that the Carolina Panthers were coaching in last year. Although most of those are no longer around after Matt Rhule cleaned house in one last bid to save his own skin.
It’s an important offseason for Rhule and the Panthers. Nailing their draft this spring could make all the difference in the pursuit of turning things around and with no Day 2 pick currently, the need to strike big further down the pecking order is even more pressing.
Without further ado, here are six prospects on defense that the Panthers should monitor closely at the 2022 Senior Bowl.
Defensive prospects the Carolina Panthers should watch at the Senior Bowl
Prospect No. 1
Arnold Ebiketie – DE/OLB (Penn State)
Transfering to Penn State from Temple proved to be the making of Arnold Ebiketie in 2021. The edge rusher certainly looked like an NFL-caliber prospect for the Nittany Lions, gaining 9.5 sacks and recording no fewer than 18 tackles for loss throughout the campaign.
This will make NFL scouts sit up and take notice. Ebiketie is still a little raw in terms of development, but his athletic attributes are absolutely off the charts and something the Carolina Panthers covet heavily in this area of the field.
Much will depend on whether Haason Reddick and Marquis Haynes come back as to the level of need in 2022. But regardless, Ebiketie is a prospect that should come under consideration.