4 Panthers defenders that could benefit from Deshaun Watson trade
By Luke Gray
Daviyon Nixon – Carolina Panthers DT
Another fifth-round pick who could see elevated playing time in 2022 is Daviyon Nixon. The former Iowa Hawkeye showed himself to be a solid rotational piece in his short time on the field before being placed on season-ending injured/reserve in October.
Derrick Brown is a first-round selection in 2020 that made excellent strides in his second year. Many are projecting the Auburn product to build further skills and confidence during the upcoming preparation period in readiness for a true breakout campaign when competitive action resumes.
However, with the Carolina Panthers struggling to stop the run and create much interior pressure, it’s possible the coaching staff could be ready to move off the player if the Houston Texans identify him as someone of interest during negotiations for Deshaun Watson.
Similar to the cornerback room, the Panthers could have a lack of defensive tackles under contract in 2022. DaQuan Jones is scheduled to be a free agent and unlikely to return, so this leaves just Brown, Nixon, Bravvion Roy, and Phil Hoskins as their likeliest options.
Nixon is another who has the attributes to be a solid player in the league and could be paired with Brown to form a solid pair on Carolina’s interior. But from the players mentioned, one would imagine that the former No. 7 overall selection could be seen as the most expendable.