7 defensive tackles the Carolina Panthers could select in the 2022 NFL Draft
Carolina Panthers could select Phidarian Mathis (Alabama)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 310 pounds
2021 Stats:
- 53 tackles
- 9 sacks
- 12 hurries
- 10.5 tackles for loss
- 78.5 PFF Grade
Phidarian Mathis is one of the best run-stuffers in this year’s draft. The lengthy defensive tackle provides a mismatch for a lot of linemen one-on-one.
During his last season at Alabama, he got plenty of those opportunities with Will Anderson coming off the edge. That led to his production of nine sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.
On the Carolina Panthers’ defense, Mathis would get plenty of one-on-one opportunities with Brian Burns, Matt Ioannidis, and Derrick Brown playing next to him.
Mathis does most of his work against the run. But his strength in rushing the quarterback cannot be underestimated. He will carve out a solid NFL career for himself with his football IQ and ability to plug multiple gaps.
The lineman can help Carolina a lot on early downs. Contributing to the creation of third and long opportunities for the rest of the defense will be valuable to the Panthers, specifically Burns, Yetur Gross-Matos, and the rest of the pass rushers.
Mathis is predicted by experts to get drafted early on Day 2. Carolina will have to trade back from the No. 6 overall selection and acquire capital or trade up to the second round to select him barring a reach or a sudden drop.
That is one of the factors potentially holding the Panthers back from drafting him. However, Mathis projects to be a quality defensive tackle in the NFL with an elite impact on the run defense.