5 shocking draft picks the Carolina Panthers could make at No. 6

Carolina Panthers could select Nakobe Dean

The Carolina Panthers have been missing a top-tier middle linebacker since Luke Kuechly left the team in 2020. Nakobe Dean could provide that same spark that the perennial All-Pro gave this defense during the Super Bowl run, with both of them having similar athletic and intangible traits.

Dean has been a star on the Georgia Bulldogs’ top-rated defense over the past three years, most recently anchoring a unit that allowed an astonishing 10 points a game, one of the best in college football. His play was a large contribution to that elite defense, being able to cover from sideline to sideline, effectively blitzing, and continually making plays in pivotal moments.

It is rare to come across a linebacker with Dean’s explosiveness in both passing coverages and playing the boundaries of the run game. He is also routinely able to keep up with tight ends and slot receivers which is pivotal in the modern NFL against the many multiple wide receiver sets.

Dean is also very effective on blitz packages when asked to do so. He can play the edge or rush inside with lightning quickness to get to the quarterback.

While the linebacker position may not be the biggest need for the Panthers, Dean would certainly be a pivotal part of the defense for the next decade and create a top-level core at the second level boasting some of the best athleticism in the league.